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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


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The  I 
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diffei 
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right 
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30X 

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et  de  haut  en  bas.  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mithode. 


!         1 

2 

3 

1 

a 

a 

* 

; 

6 

AllCIIIli  OUTWITS  THE  RKDSKIN.-PArii:  244. 

{Front  Isiiiirr.) 


;A 


.1 


iVI. 


ITHOK  < 
"  TMR  ( 
"THF 
\VU 


V6  E 


/ 


HE    BUFFALO    RUNNERS 


X 


A  TAl.K   OF  XHK   IIKD    RlVKll   I'LAIXS 


I 
I 


By   R.   M.   BALLANTYNE, 

;Tm)K  OK  "blown  to  hits;"  "thk  cokai,  island;"  "chaklik  io  ihk  kkscub;' 

I"  THR  C;AKRKT  ANDTHE  (iARDEN  ;"  "  RLl  K  I.HJH  TS,  OR  HOT  WORK  IN   rHKSOti)AN  ;" 

"tiik  ki;(;itives  ;"  "red  rooney  ; "  "the  rover  ok' the  andks;"  "thk 


WILD  MAN  OK  THE  WEST  ;  "    "  THE  RED  ERIC  ; 


1  KKAKS  ON  THE  KEI.LS  ; 


"   1  HE  YOUNG    trawler;"    "  UlSTY  DIAMONI.'S 


.«  .  •'    ••  •, 


THE  HATTER V 


AND   THE    BOILER  ;"     "  POST    HASTE  ;  "     "  BLACK     IVORY  ; 
"  THE  IRON  horse;  "    "  FIGHTING  THE  KLAMliS  ;" 


THE   lifeboat;       ETC.,    ETC. 


Mtti)  i^lUisStvattons;  bi)  tt)e  ^utI)or. 


7 


I 


|\07    015a  o\  6C 


NEW   YORK: 

THOMAS   NELSON    &   SONS, 

J3  EAST  SEVENTEENTH   STREET,   UNION   SQUARE. 


la 

th 

fri 

cit 

I 

L 


PKEFACR 


Nearly  all  the  incif^ents  in  this  tale  are  cither 


facts,  or  founded  on  fact.  The  region  in  ^vhich 
the  scenes  were  enacted,  although  now  within  the 
fringe  of  civilisation  with  the  large  and  populous 
city  of  Winnipeg  as  its  centre,  formed — at  the  time 
I  write  of  and  still  later  when  I  sojourned  there — 
part  of  the  almost  unknown  wilderness  of  llupert's 


Land. 


I 


i 
I 


li.  M.  B. 


I  CUAll 


CONTENTS. 


CHAP.  I.— HELP  ! 

II.— A  LAZY  COUPLE  DKSCRIBED— AND  ROUSED, 


III.— TO  THE  RESCUK, 

IV.-  TELLS  OF  LOVE,  DUTY,  STARVATION,  AND  MURDER, 


v.— SAVED, 

VI.— DISCORD  AND  DECEIT,  ETC.,  .... 

VII.— VIXEN  DELIVERED   AND  WOLVES  DEFEATED, 
Vin.— STIRRING  EVENTS  DESCRIBED,     .... 

IX.— OLD  PEO, 

X.— ARCHIE  AND  LITTLE  BILL  DO  WONDERS,    , 
XL— SHOWS  SOME  OF  1HE  TROUBLES  OF  PIONEER  COLONISTS 


XIL— ROUND  THE  CAMP  FIRES, 

XIII.— DIFFICULTIES  OF  VARIOUS  KINDS  OVERCOME,      . 

XIV.— TREACHERY  IN  THE  AIR, 

XV.— A  FRIEND  IN  NEED  IS  A   FRIEND  INDEED, 
XVL— AN  EVENING  IN  THE  CAMP,  .  .  .  . 

XVIL— THE   BUFFALO   HUNT. 

XVIIL— ADVENTURES  OF  ARCHIE  AND  THE  SEAMAN, 


PAOK 
1 

8 

19 

28 

43 

48 

58 

71 

86 

93 

109 

117 

129 

137 

154 

165 

179 

188 


I 

) 

f 

t 
3 

t 
3 


i 


VI 


CONTENTS. 


CHAl'.  XIX.— BRIGHT  HOPES  TKRMINATK  IN   FI'RIOUS  WAU,        .  204 

XX.— LITTLK  BILL  BECOMES  A  DIFFICULTY,    .  .  .  '218 

XXL— AN  AUSPICIOUS  BKQINNINO  AND  SUSPICIOUS  ENDING,  230 

XXII.— CI HCUM VENTING  THE  RED-SKINS,   ....  243 

XXIII.— A    MIDNIGHT  CHASE,   AND  DAN  IN   EXTREMITY,       .  2f>l 

XXIV.  — A   DKSrEUATK  SITUATION 264 

XXV.— ADVKNTURFS  OK  FKRGUS   AND   HIS  FRIENDS,  .  270 

XXVI.  — HOMB-COMINO  AND  UAUGAININO,  ....  283 

XXVII.— VISIT  FROM  SIOUX  BROUGHT  TO  A  DISASTROUS  CLOSE,  297 

XXVIII.  —VERY  PKKPLKXING  INTERVIEWS  WITH  LITT.LE  BILL,  312 

XXIX.— THE  FISHERY  DISASTERS 325 

XXX.— THE  TRIAL  FOR  MURDER, 338 

XXXI.  — RETRIBUTION, 346 

XXXIL— SUFFERING  AND  JTS  RESULTS,  ....  358 

XXXIIL — MATRIMONIAL  PLANS   AND  PROSPECTS,  .  373 

XXXIV.  — A  NEW  DISASTER, 379 

XXXV.— THE  LAST, 389 


AH, 

204 

•        , 

218 

EXDINO 

,  230 

•        • 

243 

TY,   . 

251 

•        • 

264 

• 

270 

'        • 

283 

CLOSE, 

297 

BILL, 

312 

• 

325 

• 

338 

• 

343 

• 

358 

• 

373 

• 

379 

. 

389 

ILLUSTRATIONS. 

lRCHIK  outwits  THP:  redskin  (p.  244),   Frontispiece 
^KiNETTE  TITLE. 
|«  ELSPIE  SAID,  '  SH-  ! '  '  .         .         .     facimj  page  44 

TLIGHT  OP  OLD  PEG 90 

JAVESDROFPERS, 150 

rHE  CHASE, 180 


t 

8 

i 


Il)' 


THE  BUFFALO   RUNNEES 


A  TALE  OF  THE  EED  KIVEE  PLAINS 


CHAPTEE   L 


help! 


A  SLIZZARD  was  blowing  wildly  over  the  American 
prairies  one  winter  day  in  the  earlier  part  of  the 
present  century. 

Fresh,  free  and  straight,  it  came  Irom  the  realms 
of  Jack  Frost,  and  cold — bitterly  cold — like  the 
bergs  on  the  Arctic  seas,  to  which  it  had  but 
recently  said  farewell 

Snow,  fine  as  dust  and  sharp  as  needles,  was 
caught  up  bodily  by  the  wind  in  great  masses — 
here  in  snaky  coils,  there  in  whirling  eddies,  else- 
where in  rolling  clouds;  but  these  had  barely 
time  to  assume  indefinite  forms  when  they  were 
furiously  scattered  and  swept  away  as  by  the  besom 
of  destruction,  while  earth  and  sky  commingled  in 
a  smother  of  wliity-grey. 

All  the  demons  of  the  Far  North  seemed  to  have 
taken   an   outside    passage    on    that    blizzard,   so 


i 

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I 

3 

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3 

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THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


ill 


illi 


tremendous  was  the  roaring  and  shrieking,  while 
the  writhing  of  tormented  snow-drifts  suggested 
powerfully  the  madness  of  agony. 

Two  white  and  ghostly  pillars  moved  slowly  but 
steadily  through  all  this  hurly-burly  in  a  straight 
line.  One  of  the  pillars  was  short  and  broad ; 
the  other  was  tall  and  stately.  Both  were  very 
solid — agreeably  so,  when  contrasted  with  sur- 
rounding chaos.  Suddenly  the  two  pillars  stopped 
— though  the  gale  did  not. 

Said  the  short  pillar  to  the  tall  one — 

"  Taniel  Tavidson,  if  we  will  not  get  to  the  Settle- 
ment this  night ;  it  iss  my  belief  that  every  one  o' 
them  will  perish." 

"Fergus,"  replied  the  tall  pillar,  sternly,  "they 
shall  not  perish  if  I  can  help  it.  At  aU  events,  if 
they  do,  I  shall  die  in  the  attempt  to  save  them. 
Come  on." 

Daniel  Davidson  became  less  like  a  white  pillar 
as  he  spoke,  and  more  like  a  raan,  by  reason  of  his 
shaking  a  good  deal  of  the  /mow  off  his  stalwart 
person.  Fergus  M'Kay  foilowed  bis  comrade's 
example,  and  revealed  the  fact — for  a  few  minutes 
— that  beneath  the  snow-mask  there  stood  a  young 
man  with  a  beaming  countenance  of  fiery  red,  the 
flaming  character  of  which,  however,  was  relieved 
by  an  expression  of  ineffable  good-humour. 

The  two  men  resumed  their  march  over  the 
dreary  plain  in  silence.     Indeed,  conversation  in 


v 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


the  circumstances  was  out  of  the  question.  The 
brief  remarks  that  had  been  made  when  they  paused 
to  recover  breath  were  howled  at  each  other  while 
they  stood  face  to  face. 

The  nature  of  the  storm  was  such  that  the  gale 
seemed  to  rush  at  the  travellers  from  all  quarters 
at  once — including  above  and  below.  Men  of  less 
vigour  and  resolution  would  have  been  choked  by 
it ;  but  men  who  don't  believe  in  choking,  and  have 
thick  necks,  powerful  frames,  vast  experience,  and 
indomitable  wills  are  not  easily  choked ! 

"It  blows  hard — whatever,"  muttered  Fergus  to 
himself,  with  that  prolonged  emphasis  on  the  last 
syllable  of  the  last  word  which  is  eminently  sug- 
gestive of  the  Scottish  Highlander. 

Davidson  may  have  heard  the  remark,  but  he 
made  no  reply. 

Day  declined,  but  its  exit  was  not  marked  by 
much  difference  in  the  very  feeble  light,  and  the 
two  men  held  steadily  on.  The  moon  came  out. 
As  far  as  appearances  went  she  might  almost  as 
well  have  stayed  in,  for  nobody  saw  her  that  night. 
Her  mere  existence  somewhere  in  the  sky,  however, 
rendered  the  indescribable  chaos  visible.  Hours 
passed  by,  but  still  the  two  men  held  on  their  way 
persistently. 

They  wore  five-feet-long  snow-shoes.  Progress 
over  the  deep  snow  without  these  would  have  been 
impossible.     One  traveller  walked  behind  the  other 


i 

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3 

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5 

■■li 

ft 

i 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


to  get  the  benefit  of  his  beaten  track,  but  the  bene- 
fit was  scarcely  appreciable,  for  the  whirling  snow 
filled  each  footstep  up  almost  as  soon  as  it  was 
made.  Two  days  and  a  night  had  these  men 
travelled  with  but  an  hour  or  two  of  rest  in  the 
shelter  of  a  copse,  without  fire,  and  almost  without 
food,  yet  they  pushed  on  with  the  energy  of  fresh 
and  well-fed  men. 

Nothing  but  some  overpowering  necessity  could 
have  stimulated  them  to  such  prolonged  and  severe 
exertion.  Even  self-preservation  might  have  failed 
to  nerve  them  to  it,  for  both  had  well-nigh  reached 
the  limit  of  their  exceptional  powers,  but  each  was 
animated  by  a  stronger  motive  than  self.  Fergus 
had  left  his  old  father  in  an  almost  dying  state 
on  the  snow-clad  plains,  and  Davidson  had  left  his 
affianced  bride. 

The  buffalo  hunt  had  failed  that  year;  winter 
had  set  in  with  unwonted  severity  and  earlier  than 
usual.  The  hunters,  with  the  women  and  children 
who  followed  them  in  carts  to  help  and  to  reap  the 
benefit  of  the  hunt,  were  starving.  Their  horses 
died  or  were  frozen  to  death;  carts  were  snowed 
up ;  and  the  starving  hunters  had  been  scattered  in 
making  the  best  of  their  way  back  to  the  Settlement 
of  Red  River  from  which  they  had  started. 

When  old  M'Kay  broke  down,  and  his  only 
daughter  Elspie  had  firmly  asserted  her  determina- 
tion to  remain  and  die  with  him,  Fergus  M*Kay 


h-^ 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


5 


men 


and  Daniel  Davidson  felt  themselves  to  be  put 
upon  their  mettle — called  on  to  face  a  difficulty 
of  the  most  appalling  nature.  To  remain  on  the 
snow-clad  prairie  wichout  food  or  shelter  would  be 
death  to  all,  for  there  was  no  living  creature  there 
to  be  shot  or  trapped.  On  the  other  hand,  to  travel 
a  hundred  miles  or  so  on  foot — and  without  food, 
seemed  an  impossibility.  Love,  however,  ignores 
the  impossible !  The  two  young  men  resolved  on 
the  attempt.  They  were  pretty  well  aware  of  the 
extent  of  their  physical  powers.  They  would  put 
them  fairly  to  the  test  for  once — even  though  for 
the  last  time !  They  prepared  for  the  old  man  and 
liis  daughter  a  shelter  in  the  heart  of  a  clump  of 
willows,  near  to  which  spot  they  had  found  a  group 
of  the  hapless  hunters  already  dead  and  frozen. 

Here,  as  far  from  the  frozen  group  as  possible, 
they  made  an  encampment  by  digging  down  through 
the  snow  till  the  ground  Was  reached.  As  much 
dried  wood  as  could  be  found  was  collected,  and  a 
fire  made.  The  young  men  left  their  blankets  be- 
hind, and,  of  the  small  quantity  of  provisions  that 
remained,  they  took  just  sufficient  to  sustain  life. 
Then,  with  cheery  words  of  encouragement,  they 
said  good-bye,  and  set  out  on  their  journey  to  the 
Settlement  for  help. 

The  object  at  which  they  aimed  was  almost 
gained  at  the  point  when  we  introduce  them  to  the 
reader. 


>i 


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f  THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 

"  Taniel ! "  said  Fergus,  coining  to  a  sudden  halt. 

"  Well  ?"  exclaimed  the  other. 

"  It  iss  sleepy  that  I  am.  Maybe  if  I  wass  to  lie 
down " 

He  ceased  to  speak.  Davidson  looked  anxiously 
into  his  face,  and  saw  that  he  had  already  begun 
to  give  way  to  irresistible  drowsiness.  Without  a 
moment's  hesitation  he  seized  the  Highlander  by 
the  throat,  and  shook  him  as  if  he  had  been  a 
mere  baby. 

"  Iss  it  for  fightin'  ye  are  ? "  said  Fergus,  whose 
good-nature  was  not  proof  against  such  rough  and 
unexpected  treatment. 

"  Yes,  my  boy,  that 's  just  what  I  am  for,  and  I 
think  you  '11  get  the  worst  of  it  too." 

"What  iss  that  you  say?  Ay,  ay!  You  will 
hev  to  bend  your  back  then,  Taniel,  for  it  iss  not 
every  wan  that  can  give  Fergus  M'Kay  the  worst 
of  it!" 

Davidson  made  no  reply,  but  gave  his  comrade  a 
shake  so  violent  that  it  put  to  flight  the  last  vestige 
of  his  good-humour  and  induced  him  to  struggle  so 
fiercely  that  in  a  few  minutes  the  drowsiness  was 
also,  and  effectually,  driven  away. 

"You'll  do  now,"  said  Davidson,  relaxing  his 
grip  and  panting  somewhat. 

"  Ay,  Taniel,  I  will  be  doin'  now.  An'  you  're  a 
frund  in  need  whatever,"  returned  the  restored  High- 
lander with  a  smile  of  appreciation.      ^ 


Ii' 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


About  an  hour  later  the  travellers  again  stopped. 
This  time  it  was  Davidson  who  called  a  halt. 

"  Fergut,"  he  said,  "  we  have  been  successful  so 
far,  thank  God.  But  we  must  part  here.  Half-an- 
hour  will  take  me  to  my  father's  house,  and  I  want 
you  to  go  down  tj  the  hut  of  Francois  La  Certe ;  it 
is  nearer  than  our  house,  you  know — and  get  him 
to  help  you." 

"  Surely,  Tan,  that  will  be  wasted  time,"  objected 
the  Highlander.  "  Of  all  the  lazy  useless  scamps 
in  Kud  Ruver,  Francois  La  Certe  iss  the  laziest  an' 
most  useless." 

"Useful  enough  for  our  purpose,  however,"  re- 
turned Davidson.  "  Send  him  up  to  Fort  Garry  with 
a  message,  while  you  lie  dowi;  and  rest.  If  you 
don't  rest,  you  will  yourself  be  useless  in  a  short 
time.  La  Certe  is  not  such  a  bad  fellow  as  people 
think  him,  specially  when  his  feelings  are  touched." 

"That  may  be  as  you  say.  Tan.  I  will  try — 
whatever." 

So  saying,  the  two  men  parted  and  hurried  on 
their  several  ways. 


i 


I 


ft 


THE  BUFFALO  IIUNNEUS :  A  TALE 


CHAPTEE    II. 


A  LAZT  COUPLB  DESCRIBED— AND  ROUSED. 


I 


In: 


Fkanqois  La  Certe  was  seated  on  the  floor  of  his 
hut  smoking  a  long  clay  pipe  beside  an  open  wood 
fire  when  Fergus  M'Kay  approached.  His  wife  was 
seated  beside  him  calmly  smoking  a  shorter  pipe 
with  obvious  enjoyment. 

The  man  was  a  Canadian  half-breed.  His  wife 
was  an  Indian  woman.  They  were  both*  moderately 
young  and  well  matched,  for  they  thoroughly  agreed 
in  everything  conceivable — or  otherwise.  In  the 
length  and  breadth  of  the  Settlement  there  could 
not  have  been  found  a  lazier  or  more  good-natured 
or  good-for-nothing  couple  than  La  Certe  and  his 
spouse.  Love  was,  if  we  may  venture  to  say  so,  the 
chief  element  in  the  character  of  each.  Love  of 
self  was  the  foundation.  Then,  happily,  love  of 
each  other  came  next.  Eising  gracefully,  the  super- 
structure may  be  described  as,  love  of  tobacco,  love 
of  tea,  love  of  ease,  and  love  of  general  comfort, 
finishing  off  with  a  top-dressing,  or  capital,  of  pro- 
nounced, decided,  and  apparently  incurable  love  of 


OF  THE  KED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


indolence.  They  had  only  one  clear  and  unmis- 
takable hatred  about  them,  and  that  was  the  hatred 
of  work.  They  had  a  child  about  four  years  of  age 
which  was  like-minded — and  not  unlike-bodied. 

In  the  wilderness,  as  in  the  city,  such  individuals 
are  well  known  by  the  similarity  of  their  character- 
istics. It  is  not  that  they  can't  work,  but  they 
won't  work — though,  of  course,  if  taxed  with  this 
disposition  they  would  disclaim  it  with  mild  indig- 
nation, or  an  expression  of  hurt  remonstrance,  for 
they  are  almost  too  lazy  to  become  enraged.  "  Take 
life  easy,  or,  if  we  can't  take  it  easy,  let  us  take  it  as 
easy  as  we  can,"  is,  or  ought  to  be,  their  motto.  In 
low  life  at  home  they  slouch  and  smile.  In  high 
life  they  saunter  and  affect  easy-going  urbanity — 
slightly  mingled  with  mild  superiority  to  things  in 
general.  Whatever  rank  of  life  they  belong  to  they 
lay  themselves  out  with  persistent  resolution  to  do 
as  little  work  as  they  can ;  to  make  other  people  do 
as  much  work  for  them  as  possible ;  to  get  out  of 
life  as  much  of  enjoyment  as  may  be  att'^inable — 
consistently,  of  course,  with  the  incurable  indolence 
— and,  to  put  off  as  long  as  may  be  the  evil  day 
which,  they  perceive  or  suspect,  must  inevitably 
be  coming. 

The  curious  thing  about  this  race  of  beings  is, 
that,  whether  in  high  or  low  station,  they  are  never 
ashamed  of  themselves — or  of  their  position  as 
drones  in  the  world's  hive.    They  seem  rather  to 


» 


10 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


k 


i 


apologise  for  their  degradation  as  a  thing  inevitable, 
for  which  they  are  not  accountable — and  sometimes, 
in  the  case  of  the  rich,  as  a  thing  justifiable. 

"  I  'm  glad  I  did  not  go  to  the  plains  this  fall," 
said  La  Certe,  stirring  the  logs  on  the  fire  with  his 
toe  and  emitting  a  prolonged  sigh  of  mingled  smoke 
and  contentment,  while  a  blast  from  the  bleak  nor'- 
west  shook  every  blackened  rafter  in  his  little  hut. 

"Hee!  hee!"  responded  his  wife,  whose  Indian 
name — translated — was  Slowfoot,  and  might  have 
been  Slowtongue  with  equal  propriety,  for  she  was 
quite  an  adept  at  the  art  of  silence.  She  frequently 
caused  a  giggle  to  do  duty  for  speech.  This  suited 
her  husband  admirablj^  for  he  was  fond  of  talking — 
could  tell  a  good  story,  sing  a  good  song,  and  express 
his  feelings  in  a  good  hearty  laugh. 

"  Yes,  it  will  be  hard  for  the  poor  boys  who  have 
gone  to  the  plains,  the  weather  is  so  awful,  to  say 
nothing  of  the  women." 

"  Ho,"  replied  Slowfoot — though  what  she  meant 
to  express  by  this  no  mortal  knows — nor,  perhaps, 
cares.  It  meant  nothing  bad,  however,  for  she 
smiled  seraphically  and  sent  forth  a  stream  of 
smoke,  which,  mingling  with  that  just  emitted  by 
her  husband,  rose  in  a  curling  harmony  to  the  roof. 

Slowfoot  was  not  a  bad-looking  woman  as  North 
American  Indians  go.  She  was  brown  unquestion- 
ably, and  dirty  without  doubt,  but  she  had  a  pleasant 
expression,  suggestive  of  general  good-will,  and  in 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


11 


the  budding  period  of  life  must  have  been  even 
pretty.  She  was  evidently  older  than  her  husband, 
who  might,  perhaps,  have  been  a  little  over  thirty. 

"  I  should  not  wonder,"  continued  La  Certe,  "  if 
the  bufifalo  was  drove  away,  and  the  people  starved 
this  year.  But  the  buffalo,  perhaps,  will  return  in 
time  to  save  them." 

"Hm!"  responded  the  wife,  helping  herself  to 
some  very  strong  tea,  which  she  poured  out  of  a 
tin  kettle  into  a  tin  mug  and  sweetened  with  maple 
sugar. 

"  Do  you  know  if  Cloudbrow  went  with  them  ? " 
asked  the  half-breed,  pushing  forward  his  mug  for  a 
supply  of  the  cheering  beverage. 

"  No,  he  stopped  in  his  house,"  replied  the  woman, 
rousing  herself  for  a  moment  to  the  conversational 
point,  but  relapsing  immediately. 

The  man  spoke  in  patois  French,  the  woman  in 
her  native  Cree  language.  For  convenience  we 
translate  their  conversation  as  near  as  may  be  into 
the  English  in  which  they  were  wont  to  converse 
with  the  Scotch  settlers  who,  some  time  before,  had 
been  sent  out  by  the  Earl  of  Selkirk  to  colonise  that 
remote  part  of  the  northern  wilderness. 

La  Certe's  father  was  a  French  Canadian,  his 
mother  an  Indian  woman,  but  both  having  died 
while  he  was  yet  a  boy  he  had  been  brought  or 
left  to  grow  up  under  the  care  of  an  English 
woman  who  had  followed  the  fortunes  of  the  La  Certe 


I 

f 

i 
i 


I 

1 

3 


12 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


family.  His  early  companions  had  been  half-breeds 
and  Indians.  Hence  he  could  speak  the  English, 
French,  and  Indian  languages  with  equal  incorrect- 
ness and  facility. 

"You  don't  like  Cloudbrow,"  remarked  the  man 
with  an  inquiring  glance  over  the  rim  of  his  mug. 
"  Why  you  not  like  him  ? " 

"  Hee !  hee ! "  was  Slowfoot*8  lucid  reply.  Then, 
with  an  unwonted,  frown  on  her  mild  visage,  she 
added  with  emphasis — "  No !  I  not  like  him." 

"  I  know  that,"  returned  the  husband,  setting  down 
his  mug  and  resuming  his  pipe,  "  but  why  ? " 

To  this  the  lady  answered  with  a  sound  too  brief 
to  spell,  and  the  gentleman,  being  accustomed  to 
his  wife's  little  eccentricities,  broke  into  a  hilarious 
laugh,  and  assured  her  that  Cloudbrow  was  not  a 
bad  fellow — a  capital  hunter  and  worthy  of  more 
regard  than  she  was  aware  of. 

"For,"  said  he,  "Cloudbrow  is  willing  to  wait 
till  spring  for  payment  of  the  horse  an'  cart  I 
hired  from  him  last  year.  You  know  that  I  could 
not  pay  him  till  I  go  to  the  plains  an*  get  another 
load  of  meat  an'  leather.  You  will  go  with  me, 
Slowfoot,  an'  we  will  have  grand  times  of  it  with 
buffalo-humps  an'  marrow  bones,  an'  tea  an'  tobacco. 
Ah  I  it  makes  my  mouth  water.  Give  me  more  tea. 
So.  That  will  do.  What  a  noise  the  wind  makes ! 
I  hopes  it  won't  blow  over  the  shed  an'  kill  the 
liorse.    But  if  it  do  I  cannot  help  that.    Cloudbrow 


C( 

d( 

spl 

chl 

sh 

as 

pal 

wi 

ha 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


13 


could  not  ask  me  to  pay  for  what  the  wind 
does."  » 

There  came  another  gust  of  such  violence,  as  he 
spoke,  that  even  Slowfoot's  benignant  expression 
changed  to  a  momentary  glance  of  anxiety,  for  the 
shingles  on  the  roof  rattled,  and  the  rafters  creaked 
as  if  the  hut  were  groaning  under  the  strain.  It 
passed,  however,  and  the  pair  went  on  smoking 
with  placid  contentment,  for  they  had  but  recently 
had  a  "  square  "  meal  of  pemmican  and  flour. 

This  compost  when  cooked  in  a  frying-pan  is 
exceedingly  rich  and  satisfying — not  to  say  heavy 
— food,  but  it  does  not  incommode  such  as  La 
Certe  and  his  wife.  It  even  made  the  latter  feel 
amiably  disposed  to  Cloudbrow. 

This  sobriquet  had  been  given  by  the  half-breeds 
to  a  young  Scotch  settler  named  Duncan  M'Kay, 
in  consequence  of  the  dark  frown  which  had  settled 
habitually  on  his  brow — the  result  of  bad  temper 
and  unbridled  passion.  He  was  younger  brother  to 
that  Fergus  who  has  already  been  introduced  to 
the  reader.  Having  been  partially  trained,  while 
in  Scotland,  away  from  the  small  farm-house  of 
his  father,  and  having  received  a  better  education, 
Duncan  conceived  himself  to  stand  on  a  higher 
level  than  the  sedate  and  uneducated  Fergus.  Thus 
pride  was  added  to  his  bad  temper.  But  he  was 
not  altogether  destitute  of  good  points.  What  man 
is?    One  of  these  was   a  certain  reckless   open- 


s 


i 

i 

3 


14 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS :  A  TALE 


handedness,  so  that  he  was  easily  imposed  on  by 
the  protestations  and  assurances  of  the  sly,  plausible, 
and  lazy  La  Certe. 

The  couple  were  still  engaged  in  smoking,  quaffing 
tea,  and  other  intellectual  pursuits,  when  they  heard 
sounds  outside  as  of  some  one  approaching.  An- 
other moment,  and  the  door  burst  open,  and  a 
man  in  white  stepped  in.  He  saluted  them  with  a 
familiar  and  hasty  "honjour"  as  he  stamped  and 
beat  the  snow  vigorously  from  his  garments. 

"  What  ?  Antoine  Dechamp  !  "  exclaimed  La 
Certe,  rising  slowly  to  welcome  his  friend;  "you 
seem  in  hurry  ? " 

*'  Ay — in  great  hurry  !  They  are  starving  on  the 
plains !  Many  are  dead !  Davidson  has  come  in  ! 
He  is  more  than  half- dead !  Can  hardly  tell  the 
news !  Drops  asleep  when  he  is  speaking !  Luckily 
I  met  him  when  going  home  in  my  cariole !  Ok^- 
matan,  the  Indian,  was  with  me.  So  he  got  out,  and 
said  he  would  pilot  Davidson  safe  home !  He  said 
something  about  Fergus  M'Kay,  which  I  could  not 
understand,  so  I  have  come  on,  and  will  drive  to 
Fort  Garry  with  the  news!  But  my  horse  has 
broke  down !    Is  yours  in  the  stable  ? " 

Dechamp  was  a  sturdy  young  half-breed  and  an 
old  playmate  of  La  Certe.  He  spoke  with  obvious 
impatience  at  the  delay  caused  by  having  so  much 
to  tell. 

"Is  your  horse  in  the  stable?"   he  demanded 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


15 


sharply  a  second  time,  while  his  friend  began,  with 
exasperating  composure,  to  assure  him  that  it  was, 
but  that  the  horse  was  not  his. 

"Cloudbrow  is  its  owner,"  he   said,  "and   you 

know  if  anything  happens    to  it  he   will  . 

Stay,  I  will  get  you  lantern " 

He  stopped,  for  Dechamp,  observing  a  large  key 
hanging  on  the  wall,  had  seized  it  and  rushed  out 
of  the  hut  without  waiting  for  a  lantern. 

"  Strange,  how  easy  soma  men  get  into  a  fuss !  * 
remarked  La  Certe  to  his  surprised,  but  quiet,  spouse 
as  he  lighted  a  large  tin  lantern,  and  went  to 
the  door.  Looking  out  with  an  expression  of  dis- 
comfort, he  put  on  his  cap,  and  prepared  to  face 
the  storm  in  the  cause  of  humanity.  He  held  the 
lantern  high  up  first,  however,  and  peered  under  it 
as  if  to  observe  the  full  extent  of  the  discomfort 
before  braving  it.  Just  then  a  furious  gust  blew 
out  the  light. 

"  Ha  1  I  expected  that,"  he  said,  with  a  sigh  that 
was  strongly  suggestive  of  relief,  as  he  returned  to 
the  fire  to  relight  the  lantern. 

On  going  the  second  time  to  the  door  he  observed 
the  form  of  his  friend  leading  the  horse  past — both 
of  them  looking  dim  and  spectral  through  tha 
driving  snow. 

"  Dechamp  have  good  eyes ! "  he  remarked, 
halting  on  the  threshold.  "  There  is  light  enough 
without  the  lantern ;  besides — ha  !  there,  it  is  out 


t 

) 


i. 


3 

! 

i 

X 


I !    I 


16 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


again !  What  a  trouble  it  is !  Impossible  to  keep 
it  in — such  a  night ! " 

"  Hee !  hee  ! "  giggled  Slowfoot,  who  was  busy 
refilling  her  pipe. 

La  Certe  was  still  standing  in  a  state  of  hesitancy, 
troubled  by  a  strong  desiie  to  help  his  friend,  and 
a  stronger  desire  to  spare  himself,  when  he  was 
thrown  somewhat  off  his  wonted  balance  by  the 
sudden  reappearance  of  Dechamp,  leading,  or 
rather  supporting,  a  man. 

Need  we  say  that  it  was  Fergus  M'Kay,  almost 
blind  and  dumb  from  exhaustion,  for  the  parting 
from  Dan  Davidson  which  we  have  mentioned  had 
proved  to  be  the  last  straw  wlich  broke  them  both 
down,  and  it  is  probable  that  the  frozen  corpse 
of  poor  Dan  would  have  been  found  next  day 
on  the  snow,  had  he  not  been  accidentally  met 
by  Dechamp,  an'^  taken  in  charge  by  the  Indian 
Okdmatan.  Fergus,  having  a  shorter  way  to  go, 
and,  perhaps,  possessing  a  little  more  vitality  or 
endurance,  had  just  managed  to  stagger  to  La 
Certe's  hut  when  he  encountered  the  same  man 
who,  an  hvur  pre/iously,  had  met  and  saved  his 
companion  further  down  the  Settlement. 

The  moment  Fergus  entered  the  hut,  he  looked 
wildly  round,  and  opened  his  mouth  as  if  to  speak. 
Then  he  suddenly  collapsed,  and  fell  in  a  heap 
upon  the  floor,  scattering  flakes  of  snow  from  his 
person  in  all  directions. 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


17 


,0  go, 

)y  or 

La 

mail 

his 


La  Certe  and  his  wife,  though  steeped  in  selfish- 
ness, were  by  no  means  insensible  to  the  sufferings  of 
humanity  when  these  were  actually  made  visible  to 
their  naked  eyes.  Like  many — too  many — people, 
they  were  incapable  of  being  impressed  very  deeply 
through  their  ears,  but  could  be  keenly  touched 
through  the  eyes.  No  sooner  did  they  behold  the 
condition  of  Fergus — who  was  well  known  to  them 
— than  they  dropped  their  apathetic  characters  as 
though  they  had  been  garments. 

In  her  haste  Slowfoot  let  fall  her  pipe,  which 
broke  to  atoms  on  the  floor — but  she  heeded  it  not. 
La  Certe  capsized  his  mug  of  tea — but  regarded  it 
not ;  and  while  the  former  proceeded  to  remove  the 
shawl  from  Fergus's  neck  and  chafe  his  cold  hnnds, 
the  latter  assisted  Dechamp  to  drag  the  exhausted 
man  a  little  nearer  to  the  fire,  and  poured  a  cup  of 
warm  tea  down  his  throat. 

Their  efforts,  though  perchance  not  as  wisely 
directed  as  they  might  have  been,  were  so  vigor- 
ously conducted  that  success  rewarded  them. 
Fergus  soon  began  to  show  signs  of  returning 
animation.  A  hunter  of  the  western  wilderness  is 
not  easily  overcome,  neither  is  he  long  of  reviving, 
as  a  rule,  if  not  killed  outright. 

They  set  him  up  in  a  sitting  posture  with  his 
back  against  a  box,  and  his  feet  towards  the  fire. 
Heaving  a  deep  sigh,  Fergus  looked  round  with 
a  bewildered,  anxious   expression.     In   a  moment 

B 


! 

i 

\ 

t 

3 

t 

i» 
'i 

I 
t 


18 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNEES  :   A  TALE 


Til  1 


ill 


intelligence  returned  to  his  eyes,  and  he  made  a 
violent  attempt  to  rise,  but  Dechamp  held  him 
down. 

"  Let  me  up  ! "  he  gasped,  "  life  and  death  are  in 
the  matter — if  it  iss  not  Jeath  already " 

"Be  still,  Fergus  M'Kay,"  said  Dechamp,  with 
that  firmness  of  manner  and  tone  which  somehow 
command  respect ;  "  I  know  all  about  it.  Take  one 
bit  of  bread,  one  swig  more  of  tea,  and  you  go  with 
me  to  Fort  Garry,  to  tell  the  Gov'nor  what  you 
know.    He  will  send  help  at  once." 

Great  was  the  relief  of  Fergus  when  he  heard 
this.  Submitting  to  treatment  like  an  obedient 
child,  he  was  soon  fit  to  stagger  to  the  sleigh  or 
cariole,  into  which  he  was  carefully  stuffed  and 
packed  like  a  bale  of  goods  by  La  Certe  and  his 
wife,  who,  to  their  credit  be  it  recorded,  utterly 
ignored,  for  once,  the  discomforts  of  the  situation. 

Fergus  was  asleep  before  the  packing  was  quite 
done.  Then  Dechamp  jumped  in  beside  him,  and 
drove  off  in  tho  direction  of  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Company's  establishment,  Fort  Garry,  while  our 
worthy  couple  returned  to  their  hut  to  indulge  in 
a  final  and  well-earned  pipe  and  a  mug  of  the 
strongest  possible  tea. 


OF  THE  RED  KIVER  PLAINS. 


19 


CHAPTER   III. 


TO  THE  RESCUE. 


Winnipeg  city,  with  its  thousands  of  inhabitants, 
now  covers  the  spot  to  which  Antoine  Dechamp 
drove  his  friend  Fergus  M'Kay. 

At  the  time  we  write  of,  the  only  habitation 
there  was  Fort  Garry,  a  solitary  stone  building  of 
some  strength,  but  without  regular  troops  of  any 
kind,  and  held  only  by  a  few  employes  of  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company,  who  were  there  only  in 
the  capacity  of  fur-traders. 

Here  the  Governor  of  the  colony  received  the 
unexpected  guests  with  hospitality ;  heard  the  tale 
of  Fergus  with  a  sympathetic  ear,  and  at  once  or- 
ganised a  rescue-expedition  with  dog-sledges  and 
provisions. 

While  this  was  being  done  at  the  fort,  Dan 
Davidson  was  similarly  employed  at  Prairie  Cottage, 
the  residence  of  his  mother,  who,  since  the  death  of 
her  husband — a  farmer  from  the  Scottish  Lowlands 
— had  managed  her  farm  with  the  aid  of  her  two 
sons,  Dan  and  Peter;  the  latter  being  a  youth  of 


I 


1 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


ii! 


# 


» 


H 


seventeen.  She  was  also  assisted  by  her  only 
daughter,  Jessie,  who  was  over  thirteen  years  of  age, 
and  already  esteemed  an  authority  on  the  subjects 
of  poultry,  cookery,  and  dairy  produce.  A  small 
servant — a  French  half-breed  named  Louise — com- 
pleted the  household  of  the  widow  Davidson. 

On  reaching  home,  Dan,  like  Fergus  M'Kay,  ex- 
perienced difficulties  that  he  had  not  counted  on, 
for  his  overtaxed  strength  fairly  broke  down,  and 
he  found  himself  almost  incapable  at  first  of  telling 
his  tale  of  disaster.  Then,  when  he  tried  to  go 
about  the  needful  preparations  for  rescue,  he  found 
himself  unable  to  resist  drowsiness,  and  if  he 
ventured  to  sit  down  for  a  moment  he  fell  sound 
asleep  at  once. 

Those  who  have  experienced  this  condition  know 
how  overwhelming  and  intensely  disagreeable  it  is, 
especially  if  resistance  to  it  is  rendered  imperative 
by  a  matter  of  life  or  death.  Davidson  struggled 
bravely  against  it  of  course,  but  the  struggle  had 
already  been  so  long  continued  that  his  efforts  were 
now  in  vain.  ^ 

Starting  up  from  the  supper  which  Jessie  had 
spread  before  him,  and  which  he  was  languidly 
attempting  to  eat,  he  said,  almost  fiercely,  "  Where 
is  the  wash-tub,  Louise  ? " 

The  surprised  little  domestic  pointed  to  the  article 
in  question. 

"Here;  fetch  some  cold  water." 


OF  I'TE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


21 


r  only 
of  age, 
ubjects 
.  small 
— com- 

ay,  ex- 

ed  on, 

Q,  and 

telling 

to  go 

found 

if  he 

sound 

know 
i  it  is, 
rative 
iggled 
3  had 

were 

had 
uidly 
There 

rticle 


"It  is  full,"  said  Louise  with  a  strong  French 
accent  and  a  pretty  lisp.  -  '^    :  •.'. 

Without  the  ceremony  even  of  throwing^back  his 
collar  Dan  plunged  his  head  into  the  water,  ai^d, 
after  steeping  it  for  a  few  seconds,  drew  it  out 
refreshed. 

His  younger  brother  entered  the  room  at  that 
moment. 

"  Peter,"  he  said,  drying  his  head  violently  with 
a  jack-towel,  "  have  you  got  the  sledge  ready,  and 
the  provisions  packed,  and  the  empty  sledge  wi'  the 
buffalo-robes?" 

"  Ay — all  ready,"  answered  the  oth^r,  for  he  was 
a  sprightly,  willing  youth,  who  rejoiced  in  any  un- 
expected demand  on  his  superabundant  energies. 
"But  I  say,  Dan,  you  are  quite  unfit  to  start  off 
again  without  rest." 

He  looked  in  his  brother's  face  anxiously,  for 
Dan  had  seated  himself  once  more  to  his  food,  but 
seemed  unable  to  deal  with  it  properly.  "Why, 
you  Ve  got  the  knife  and  fork  in  the  wrong  hands, 
Dan!  You  7mcst  have  an  hour's  rest  before  we 
start." 

"Impossible,"  returned  the  other  with  a  dazed 
look,  as  he  seized  a  mug  of  water  and  drank  it  off. 
"An  hour's  delay  may  mean  death  to  Elspie  and 
old  Duncan  M'Kay." 

"But  let  me  start  off  at  once."  returned  Peter, 
eagerly.     "  I  've  a  pretty  good  guess,  from  your 


f 

» 

i 

i 


i 


fe 


22 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


^1  lil 


description,  where  you  left  them.  Besides,  the  gale 
is  not  so  bad  now.  After  an  hour's  sleep  you  will 
be  able  to  start  fresh,  maybe  overtake  me.  Jesa 
will  be  sure  to  waken  you  in " 

He  stopped,  for  his  brother's  head  had  bent  slowly 
forward  while  he  was  speaking,  and  now  rested  on 
his  arms  on  the  table.  The  worn-out  man  was 
sound  asleep. 

"  Just  leave  him,  Peter,  and  be  off  wi'  the  dogs," 
said  Mrs.  Davidson.  "  Ok^matan  will  keep  ycu  in 
the  right  track.  I'll  be  sure  to  wake  him  in 
time  to  catch  you  up." 

"No,  mother,  not  without  his  leave,"  said  the 
youth,  firmly.  "Dan!  Dan!  rouse  up,  old  boyl 
Shall  we  start  without  you  ? " 

"Yes,  yes — I'm  ready,"  said  the  poor  fellow, 
starting  up  and  swaying  to  and  fro  like  a  drunken 
man ;  "  but — I  say,  Peter,  I  'm  done  for.  I  depend 
on  you,  lad,  to  keep  me  up  to  the  scratch.  Lay  the 
dog-whip  across  my  shoulders  if  I  try  to  lie  down. 
Promise  me  that.    D'ee  hear ! " 

"Yes,  I  understand,"  returned  the  youth  with 
intense  earnestness.  "Now  look  here,  Dan,  you 
know  me ;  will  you  trust  me  ? " 

"  Of  course  I  will,"  answered  Dan  with  a  languid 
smile. 

"  Well,  then;  come  along,  we'll  rescue  Elspie — you 
may  depend  on  that.  Okt^matan  and  I  will  look 
after  you  and  see  that  all  goes  right.     Come." 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


23 


He  took  his  brother  by  the  arm,  and  led  hinr* 
unresistingly  away,  followed  by  the  dark-skinned 
Indian,  who,  with  the  usual  reticence  of  his  race, 
had  stood  like  a  brown  statue,  silently  observing 
events. 

Jessie  Davidson,  who  was  a  fair  and  comely 
maiden,  touched  him  on  tho  arm  as  he  was  passing 
out — 

"Oh!  take  care  of  him,  Ok^matan,"  she  said, 
anxiously. 

Ok^matan  replied  "  Ho ! "  in  a  sort  of  grunt.  It 
was  an  expressively  uttered  though  not  very  com- 
prehensible reply ;  but  Jessie  was  satisfied,  for  she 
knew  the  man  well,  as  he  had  for  a  considerable 
time  been,  not  exactly  a  servant  of  the  house,  but 
a  sort  of  self-appointed  hanger-on,  or  unpaid  retainer. 
For  an  Indian,  he  was  of  a  cheerful  disposition  and 
made  himself  generally  useful. 

When  they  were  outside,  it  was  found  that  the 
gale  had  abated  considerably,  and  that  the  moon 
was  occasionally  visible  among  the  clouds  which 
were  driving  wildly  athwart  the  heavens,  as  though 
the  elemental  war  which  had  ceased  to  trouble  the 
earth  were  still  raging  in  the  sky. 

"Peter,"  said  the  brother,  as  they  stood  for  a 
moment  beside  two  Indian  sledges^  one  of  which 
was  laden  with  provisions,  the  other  empty — "Peter, 
don't  forget  your  promise.  Lay  the  whip  on  heavy. 
Nothing  else  will  keep  me  awake ! " 


i 

I 

1 


24 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


'  . 


ill 


"All  right!  Sh  down  there  for  a  moment. 
We  're  not  quite  ready  yet." 

"  I  'd  better  not.  No  !  I  will  stand  till  it 's  time 
to  start,"  returned  Dan  with  a  dubious  shake  of  his 
head. 

"  Didn't  you  say  you  would  trust  me  ?  ** 

"  Yes,  I  did,  old  boy." 

"Does  it  look  like  trusting  me  to  refuse  the 
very  first  order  I  give  you  ?  What  an  example  to 
Ok^matan !  I  am  in  command,  Dan.  Do  as  you  *re 
bid,  sir,  and  sit  down." 

With  a  faint  smile,  and  a  still  more  dubious 
shake  of  the  head,  Dan  obeyed.  He  sat  down  on 
the  empty  sledge  and  the  expected  result  followed. 
In  a  few  s<^conds  he  was  asleep. 

"Now  we'll  pack  him  in  tight,"  observed  his 
brother,  as  he  and  the  Indian  stretched  the  sleeper 
at  full  length  on  the  sledge,  wrapped  him  com- 
pletely up  in  the  warm  buffalo  robes,  and  lashed 
him  down  in  such  a  way  that  he  resembled  a 
mummy,  with  nothing  visible  of  him  except  his 
mouth  and  nose. 

Four  strong  large  dogs  were  attached  to  each 
sledge  in  tandem  fashion,  each  dog  having  a  little 
collar  and  harness  of  its  own.  No  reins  were  ne- 
cessary. A  track  beaten  in  the  soft  snow  with  his 
snow-shoes  by  the  Indian,  who  stepped  out  in  front, 
was  guide  enough  for  them;  and  a  tail-line  at- 
tached to  the  rear  of  each  sledge,  and  held  by  the 


d 
h 


|;.H:lii 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


25 


drivers,  sufficed  to  restrain  them  when  a  stretch  of 
hard  snow  or  ice  tempted  them  to  have  a  scamper. 

The  road  thus  beaten  over  the  prairie  by  Okd- 
raatan,  though  a  comparatively  soft  one,  was  by 
no  means  smooth,  and  the  rough  motion  would,  in 
ordinary  circumstances,  have  rendered  sleep  im- 
possible to  our  hero;  but  it  need  hardly  be  said 
that  it  failed  to  disturb  him  on  the  present  occasion. 
He  slept  like  an  infant  throughout  the  whole  night; 
cared  nothing  for  the  many  plunges  down  the 
prairie  waves,  and  recked  not  of  the  frequent  jerks 
out  of  the  hollows. 

Hour  after  hour  did  Peter  Davidson  with  his 
silent  companion  trudge  over  the  monotonous 
plains — hope  in  the  ascendant,  and  vigour,  ap- 
parently, inexhaustible.  The  dogs,  too,  were  good 
and  strong.  A  brief  halt  now  and  then  of  a  few 
minutes  sufficed  to  freshen  them  for  every  new  start. 
Night  passed  away,  and  daylight  came  in  with 
its  ghostly  revelations  of  bushes  that  looked  like 
bears  or  buffaloes,  and  snow-wreaths  that  suggested 
the  buried  forms  of  frozen  men. 

Then  the  sun  arose  and  scattered  these  sombre 
visions  of  early  morning  with  its  gladdening,  soul- 
reviving  rays. 

At  this  point  the  rescue  party  chanced  to  have 
reached  one  of  those  bluffs  of  woodland  which  at 
that  time  speckled  the  plains — though  they  were 
few  indeed  and  far  between. 


I 


i 

3 


3 


26 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


/ 


"  Breakfast,"  said  Peter,  lieaving  a  profound  sigh 
as  he  turned  about  and  checked  the  teams,  for  at 
that  point  he  happened  to  be  in  advance  beating 
the  track. 

Ok^matan  expressed  his  entire  concurrence  with 
an  emphatic  "  Ho ! "  The  wearied  dogs  lay  down 
in  their  tracks,  shot  out  their  tongues,  panted,  and 
looked  amiable,  for  well  they  knew  the  meaning  of 
the  word  "  breakfast "  and  the  relative  halt. 

The  sudden  stoppage  awoke  the  sleeper,  and  he 
struggled  to  rise. 

"  Hallo !  What 's  wrong  ?  Where  am  I  ?  Have 
the  Kedskins  got  hold  o'  me  at  last  ? " 

"Ay,  that  they  have.  At  least  one  Eedskin 
has  got  you,"  said  Peter.  "Have  a  care,  man, 
don't  struggle  so  violently.  Ok^matan  won't  scalp 
you." 

The  sound  of  his  brother's  voice  quieted  David- 
son, and  at  once  restored  his  memory. 

"  Cast  me  loose,  Peter,"  he  said ;  "  you  're  a  good 
fellow.  I  see  you  have  brought  me  along  wi'  you, 
and  I  feel  like  a  giant  refreshed  now,  tho'  some- 
what stiff.    Have  we  come  far  ? " 

"  I  don 't  know  how  far  we've  come,  but  I  know 
that  we  *ve  been  pegging  along  the  whole  night,  and 
that  we  must  have  breakfast  before  we  take  another 
step.  It 's  all  very  well  for  you,  Dan,  to  lie  there 
all  night  like  a  mere  bag  o'  pemmican  enjoying 
yourself,  but  you  must  remember  that  your  brother 


13 


\ 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


it 


md  sigh 

3,  for  at 

beating 

ice  with 
ly  down 
;ed,  and 
ming  of 

and  he 

Have 

!edskin 
,  man, 
b  scalp 

David- 
good 
you, 

some- 
know 

fc,  and 

other 

there 

)yiug 

Dther 


is  mortal,  and  so  are  the  dogs,  to  say  nothing  o*  the 
Eedskin." 

While  he  was  upeaking,  the  youth  undid  the 
fastenings,  and  set.  his  brother  free,  but  Dan  was 
far  too  anxious  to  indulge  in  pleasantries  just  then. 
After  surveying  the  landscape,  and  coming  to  a 
conclusion  as  to  where  they  were,  he  took  a  hur- 
ried breakfast  of  dried  meat — cold.  The  dogs  were 
also  treated  to  a  hearty  feed,  and  then,  resuming 
the  march,  the  rescuers  pushed  on  with  renewed 
vigour — Dan  Davidson  now  beating  the  track,  and 
thus  rendering  it  more  easy  for  those  who  came 
behind  him. 

All  that  day  they  pushed  on  almost  without  halt, 
and  spent  the  next  night  in  a  clump  of  willows; 
but  Dan  was  too  anxious  to  take  much  rest.  They 
rose  at  the  first  sign  of  daybreak,  and  pushed  on  at 
their  utmost  speed,  until  the  poor  dogs  began  to 
show  signs  of  breaking  down ;  but  an  extra  hour 
of  rest,  and  a  full  allowance  of  food  kept  them  up 
to  the  mark,  while  calm  weather  and  clear  skies 
served  to  cheer  them  on  their  way. 


M 


I 

3 


it 

I 


I  I  ; 


28 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNKTIS :   A  TALE 


mww 


CHAPTER    IV. 

TELLS  OP  LOVE,  DUTY,  STARVATION,  AND  MURDER. 

Pushing  on  ahead  of  them,  with  that  sometimes 
fatal  facility  peculiar  to  writers  and  readers,  we  will 
now  visit  the  couple  whom  Dan  and  his  party  were 
so  anxious  to  rescue.  " 

A  single  glance  at  Elspie  M'Kay  would  have  been 
sufficient  to  account  to  most  people  for  the  de- 
sperate anxiety  of  Daniel  Davidson  to  rescue  her 
from  death,  for  her  pretty  sparkling  face  and  ever- 
varying  expression  were  irresistibly  suggestive  of 
a  soul  full  of  sympathy  and  tender  regard  for  the 
feelings  of  others. 

Nut-brown  hair,  dark  eyes,  brilliant  teeth,  and 
many  more  charms  that  it  would  take  too  much 
time  and  room  to  record  still  further  accounted 
for  the  desperate  determination  with  which  Dan 
liad  wooed  and  won  her. 

But  to  see  this  creature  at  her  best,  you  had 
to  see  her  doing  the  dutiful  to  her  old  father.  If 
ever  there  was   a  peevish,  cross-grained,  crabbed. 


1 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


29 


letimes 
ive  will 
y  were 

e  been 
le  de- 
le her 
ever- 
Lve  of 
)r  the 

,  and 

much 

mted 

Dan 

had 
.    If 

)bed. 


unreasonable  old  sinner  in  this  world,  that  sinner 
was  Duncan  M'Kay,  senior.  He  was  a  widower. 
Perhaps  that  accounted  to  some  extent  for  his 
condition.  That  he  should  have  a  younger  son — 
also  named  Duncan — a  cross  ne'er-do-weel  like 
himself — was  natural,  but  how  he  came  to  have 
such  a  sweet  daughter  as  Elspie,  and  such  a  good 
elder  son  as  Fergus,  are  mysteries  which  we  do  not 
attempt  to  unravel  or  explain.  Perhaps  these  two 
took  after  their  departed  mother.  We  know  not, 
for  we  never  met  her.  Certain  it  is  that  they  did 
not  in  the  least  resemble  their  undeparted  father 
— except  in  looks,  for  M'Kay  senior  had  been  a 
handsome  man,  though  at  the  time  we  introduce 
him  his  good  looks,  like  his  temper,  had  nearly  fled, 
and  he  was  considerably  shrivelled  up  by  age,  hard 
work,  and  exposure.  The  poor  man  was  too  old 
to  emigrate  to  a  wilderness  home  when  he  had  set 
out  for  the  Eed  Kiver  Colony,  and  the  unusual 
sufferings,  disappointments,  and  hardships  to  which 
the  first  settlers  were  exposed  had  told  heavily  on 
even  younger  men  than  he. 

Elspie's  love  for  her  father  was  intense;  her 
pity  for  him  in  his  misfortunes  was  very  tender; 
and,  now  that  he  was  brought  face  to  face  with, 
perhaps,  the  greatest  danger  that  had  ever  befallen 
him,  her  anxiety  to  relieve  and  comfort  him  was 
very  touching.  She  seemed  quite  to  forget  herself, 
and  the  fact  that  she  might  perish  on  the  bleak 


I 

I 


3 

t 

i 


ao 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


plains  along  with  her  father  did  not  seem  even  to 
occur  to  her. 

"  It  wass  madness  to  come  here,  whatever,"  said 
the  poor  old  man,  as  he  cowered  over  the  small  fire, 
which  his  son  Fergus  had  kindled  before  leaving,  and 
which  Elspie  had  kept  up  with  infinite  labour  and 
difficulty  ever  since. 

The  remark  was  made  testily  to  himself,  for  Elspie 
had  gone  into  the  surrounding  bush,  axe  in  hand,  to 
find,  if  possible,  and  cut  down  some  more  small 
pieces  of  firewood.  When  she  returned  with  an 
armful  of  dry  sticks,  he  repeated  the  sentiment  still 
more  testily,  and  added — 

"  If  it  wass  not  for  Tuncan,  I  would  have  been  at 
home  this  night  in  my  warm  bed,  wi'  a  goot  supper 
inside  o'  me,  instead  o'  freezin'  an'  starvin'  oot  here 
on  the  plain  among  the  snow.  It 's  mischief  that 
boy  wass  always  after  from  the  tay  he  wass  born." 

"  But  you  know  that  poor  Duncan  could  not  guess 
we  were  to  have  such  awful  weather,  or  that  the 
buffalo  would  be  so  scarce.  Come  now,  dear  daddy," 
said  the  cheery  girl,  as  she  heaped  on  wood  and 
made  a  blaze  that  revived  the  old  man,  "  I  '11  warm 
up  some  more  of  the  tea.  There 's  a  very  little  left 
— and — and— it  surely  won't  be  long  till  God  sends 
Daniel  and  Fergus  back  to  us  with  food." 

Old  M'Kay  was  somewhat  mollified  by  her  man- 
ner, or  by  the  fire,  or  by  the  prospect  of  relief  held 
out,  for  his  tone  improved  decidedly. 


as 


ms 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


31 


"  Try  the  bag  again,  lass,"  he  said,  "  maybe  you  '11 
find  a  crumb  or  two  in  the  corners  yet.  It  will  do 
no  harm  to  try." 

Obediently  poor  Elspie  tried,  but  shook  her  head 
as  she  did  so. 

"  There 's  nothing  there,  daddy.  I  turned  it 
inside  out  last  time.' 

"  Wow !  but  it 's  ill  to  bear ! "  exclaimed  old 
Duncan,  with  a  half-suppressed  groan 

Meanwhile  his  daughter  put  the  tin  kettle  on  the 
fire  and  prepared  their  last  cup  of  tea.  When  it 
was  ready  she  looked  up  with  a  peculiar  expression 
on  her  face,  as  she  drew  something  from  her  pocket. 

"  Look  here,  daddy,"  she  said,  holding  up  a  bit  of 
pemmican  about  the  size  of  a  hen's  egg. 

The  old  man  snatched  it  from  her,  and,  biting 
off  a  piece,  began  to  chew  with  a  sort  of  wolfish 
voracity. 

"  I  reserved  it  till  now,"  said  the  girl,  "  for  I 
knew  that  this  being  the  second  night,  you  would 
find  it  impossible  to  get  to  sleep  at  all  without 
something  in  you,  however  small.  If  you  manage 
to  sleep  on  this  and  the  cup  of  hot  tea,  you'll  may- 
be rest  well  till  morning and  then " 

"  God  forgive  me ! "  exclaimed  the  old  man, 
suddenly  pausing,  as  he  was  about  to  thrust  the 
last  morsel  into  his  mouth;  "hunger  makes  me 
selfish.  I  wass  forgettin'  that  you  are  starvin'  too, 
my  tear.     Open  your  mouth." 


> 

§ 


t 


i 

3 


Ir     ill 

l|..|f 


32 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


■aill 


"  No,  father,  I  don't  want  it.  I  really  don't  feel 
hungry." 

"Elspie,  my  shild,"  said  old  Duncan,  in  a  tone  of 
stern  remonstrance,  "  when  wass  it  that  yon  began 
to  tell  lies  ? " 

"  I  'm  telling  the  truth,  daddy.  I  did  feel  hungiy 
yesterday,  but  that  has  passed  away,  and  to-day  I 
feel  only  a  little  faint." 

"  Open  your  mouth,  I  'm  tellin'  you,"  repeated  old 
Duncan  in  a  tone  of  command  which  long  experience 
had  taught  Elspie  promptly  to  obey.  She  received 
the  morsel,  ate  it  with  much  relish,  and  wished 
earnestly  for  more. 

"  Now,  you  '11  lie  down  and  go  to  sleep."  she  said, 
after  her  father  had  washed  down  the  last  morsel  of 
food  with  the  last  cup  of  hot  tea,  "  and  I  '11  gather  a 
few  more  sticks  to  keep  the  fire  going  till  morning. 
I  think  it  is  not  so  cold  as  it  was,  and  the  wind  is 
quite  gone.  They  have  been  away  five  days  now, 
or  more.  I  think  that  God,  in  His  mercy,  will  send 
us  relief  in  the  morning." 

"  You  are  a  goot  lass,  my  tear,"  said  the  old  man, 
allowing  himself  to  be  made  as  comfortable  as  it 
was  in  his  daughter's  power  to  accomplish ;  "  what 
you  say  is  ferry  true.  The  weather  feels  warmer, 
and  the  wind  is  down.  Perhaps  they  will  find  us 
in  the  mornin'.     Goot-night,  my  tear." 

It  was  one  of  the  characteristics  of  this  testy  old 
man,  that  he  believed  it  quite  possible  for  a  human 


3n't  feel 

tone  of 
1  began 

hungry 
10-day  I 

ited  old 
)erience 
eceived 
wished 

le  said, 
)rsel  of 
ither  a 
)rning. 
ind  is 
3  now, 
1  send 

man, 

as  it 

what 

rmer, 

id  us 

y  old 
iman 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


33 


being  to  get  on  quite  well  enough  in  this  world 
without  any  distinct  recognition  of  his  Maker. 

Once,  in  conversation  with  his  youngest  son  and 
namesake  Duncan  junior,  he  had  somehow  got 
upon  this  subject,  not  by  any  means  in  a  reverential, 
but  ia  an  argumentative,  controversial  spirit,  and 
had  expressed  the  opinion  that  as  man  knew 
nothing  whatever  about  God,  and  had  no  means  ot 
finding  out  anything  about.  Him,  there  was  no  need 
to  trouble  one's  head  about  Him  at  all. 

"  I  just  go  about  my  work,  Tuncan,"  he  said,  "  an 
leave  preachin'  an'  prayin'  an'  psalm-singin'  to  them 
that  likes  it.  There 's  Elspie,  now.  She  believes  in 
God,  an*  likes  goin'  to  churches  an'  meetin's,  an' 
that  seems  to  make  her  happy.  Ferry  goot — I  don't 
pelieve  in  these  things,  an'  I  think  I  'm  as  happy  as 
hersel'.'* 

"  Humph ! "  grunted  the  son  in  a  tone  of  un- 
concealed contempt ;  "  if  ye  are  as  happy  as  hersel', 
faither,  yer  looks  give  the  lie  to  your  condeetion, 
whatever.  An'  there 's  this  great  dufference  between 
you  an'  her,  that  she 's  not  only  happy  hersel',  but 
she  does  her  best  to  mak  other  folk  happy — but  you, 
wi'  your  girnin'  an*  snappin*,  are  always  doin'  the 
best  ye  can  to  mak  everybody  aboot  ye  meeser- 
able." 

"  Tuncan,'*  retorted  the  sire,  with  solemn  candour, 
*'  it  iss  the  same  compliment  I  can  return  to  yoursel* 
with  interest,  my  boy — whatever." 


? 

t 
I 

i 
t 

3 

! 

i 

I 


i 


I' 


84 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS :   A  TALE 


II 

m 


I     '! 


With  such  sentiments,  then,  it  is  not  remarkable 
that  Duncan  M'Kay  senior  turned  over  to  sleep  as 
he  best  could  without  looking  to  a  higher  source 
than  earth  afforded  for  help  in  his  extremity. 
Happily  his  daughter  was  actuated  by  a  better 
spirit,  and  when  she  at  last  lay  down  on  her  pile 
of  brushwood,  with  her  feet  towards  the  fire,  and 
her  head  on  a  buffalo  robe,  the  fact  of  her  having 
previously  committed  herself  and  her  father  to  God 
made  her  sleep  all  the  sounder. 

In  another  clump  of  wood  not  many  miles  distant 
from  the  spot  where  the  father  and  daughter  lay, 
two  hunters  were  encamped.  One  was  Duncan 
M'Kay,  to  whom  we  have  just  referred  as  being 
in  discord  with  his  father.  The  other  was  a 
Canadian  named  Henri  Perrin. 

Both  men  were  gaunt  and  weakened  by  famine. 
They  had  just  returned  to  camp  from  an  unsuc- 
cessful hunt,  and  the  latter,  being  first  to  return, 
had  kindled  the  fire,  and  was  about  to  put  on  the 
kettle  when  M'Kay  came  in. 

"  I  've  seen  nothing,"  remarked  M'Kay  as  he  flung 
down  his  gun  and  then  flung  himself  beside  it. 
"  Did  you  see  anything  ? " 

"No,  nothing,"  answered  Perrin,  breaking  off  a 
piece  of  pemmican  and  putting  it  into  the  pot. 

"  How  much  is  left  ? "  asked  M'Kay. 

"  Hardly  enough  for  two  days — for  the  two  of  us ; 
four  days  perhaps  for  one ! "  answered  the  other. 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


35 


a 


le  it. 
loff  a 


f  us; 


M'Kay  looked  up  quickly,  but  the  Canadian  was 
gazing  abstractedly  into  the  pot.  Apparently  his 
remark  had  no  significance.  But  M'Kay  did  not 
think  so.  Since  arriving  in  the  colony  he  had 
seen  and  heard  much  about  deception  and  crime 
among  both  Indians  and  half-breeds.  Being  sus- 
picious by  nature,  he  became  alarmed,  for  it  was 
evident  enough,  as  Perrin  had  said,  that  food  to  last 
two  men  for  three  days  would  last  one  man  for  six, 
and  the  one  who  should  possess  six  days*  provi- 
sions might  hope  to  reach  the  Settlement  alive,  even 
though  weakened  by  previous  starvation. 

The  dark  expression  which  had  procured  for 
Duncan  M'Kay  junior  the  sohriquet  of  Cloudbrow 
from  La  Certe  and  his  wife,  deepened  visibly  as 
these  thoughts  troubled  his,  brain,  and  for  some 
time  he  sat  gazing  at  the  fire  in  profound  abs- 
traction. 

Young  M'Kay  was  not  by  any  means  one  of  the 
most  depraved  of  men,  but  when  a  man  is  devoid 
of  principle  it  only  requires  temptation  strong 
enough,  and  opportunity  convenient,  to  sink  him 
suddenly  to  the  lowest  depths.  Starvation  had  so 
far  weakened  the  physique  of  the  hunters  that  it 
was  obviously  impossible  for  both  of  them  to  reach 
the  Settlement  on  two  days*  short  allowance  of 
food.  The  buffalo  had  been  driven  away  from  that 
neighbourhood  by  the  recent  storm,  and  the  hope 
of  again  falling  in  with  them  was  now  gone.    The 


I 
$ 


\ 


I  I 


36 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


starving  hunters,  as  we  have  said,  had  broken  up 
camp,  and  were  scattered  over  the  plains  no  one 
could  tell  where.  To  find  them  might  take  days,  if 
not  weeks ;  and,  even  if  successful,  of  what  avail 
would  it  be  to  discover  groups  of  men  who  were  in 
the  same  predicament  with  themselves  ?  To  remain 
where  they  were  was  certain  and  not  far-distant 
death !  The  situation  was  desperate,  and  each  knew 
it  to  be  so.  Yet  each  did  not  take  it  in  the  same 
way.  M'Kay,  as  we  have  said,  became  abstracted 
and  slightly  nervous.  The  Canadian,  whatever  his 
thoughts,  was  calm  and  collected,  and  went  about 
his  culinary  operations  as  if  he  were  quite  at  ease. 
He  was  about  to  lift  the  pot  off  the  hook  that  sus- 
pended it  over  the  fire,  when  his  companion  quietly, 
and  as  if  without  any  definite  purpose,  took  up  his  gua 

Perrin  observed  the  action,  and  quickly  reached 
out  his  hand  towards  his  own  weapon,  which  lay  on 
the  ground  beside  him. 

Quick  as  lightning  M'Kay  raised  his  gun  and  fired. 
Next  moment  his  comrade  lay  dead  upon  the  ground 
— shot  through  the  heart ! 

Horror-struck  at  what  he  had  done,  the  murderer 
could  scarcely  believe  his  eyes,  and  he  stood  up 
glaring  at  the  corpse  as  if  he  had  been  frozen  to 
death  in  that  position.  After  standing  a  long  time, 
he  sat  down  and  tried  to  think  of  his  act  and  the 
probable  consequences. 

Self-defence  was  the  first  idea  that  was  suggested 


OF  TUE  RED  lilVEll  PLAINS. 


d7 


up 
to 
ime, 
the 

Jted 


clearly  to  him ;  and  he  clung  to  it  as  a  drowning 
man  is  said  to  cling  to  a  straw.  "  Was  it  not  clear," 
he  thought,  "  that  Perrin  intended  to  murder  me  ? 
If  not,  why  so  quick  to  grip  his  gun?  If  I  had 
waited  it  would  have  been  me,  not  Perrin,  that 
would  be  lying  there  now ! " 

His  memory  reminded  him  faithfully,  however, 
that  when  he  first  thought  of  tal'  ^  up  his  gun. 
Conscience  had  sternly  said, "  Don 't."  Why  should 
Conscience  have  spoken  thus,  or  at  all,  if  his  motive 
had  been  innocent  ? 

There  are  two  >vays  in  which  a  wicked  man  gets 
rid  of  conscientious  troubles — at  least  for  a  time. 
One  way  is  by  stout-hearted  defiance  of  God,  and 
ignoring  of  Conscience  altogether.  The  other  is  by 
sophistical  reasoning,  and  a  more  or  less  successful 
effort  to  throw  dust  in  his  own  eyes. 

Duncan  M'Kay  took  the  latter  method.  It  is  an 
easy  enough  method — especially  with  the  illogical — 
but  it  works  indifferently,  and  it  does  not  last  long. 
Conscience  may  be  seared ;  may  be  ignored ;  may 
be  trampled  on,  but  it  cannot  be  killed ;  it  cannot 
even  be  weakened  and  is  ever  ready  at  the  most 
unseasonable  and  unexpected  times  to  start  up, 
vigorous  and  faithful  to  the  very  end,  with  its 
emphatic  "  Don't ! "  and  "  No ! " 

Dragging  the  body  out  of  the  camp,  M*Kay  re- 
turned to  take  bis  supper  and  reason  the  matter  out 
with  himself. 


«# 


i 

t 
3 

I 


U 


If 

il 


!3 


i  i' 

it 


d8 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


II     :  I 


ill!!! 


11  '  'I! II 


!!    I 


**  I  could  not  help  myself,"  he  thought ;  "  when  1 
took  up  my  gun  I  did  not  intend  to  kill  the  man." 

Conscience  again  reminded  him  of  its  "  Don't ! " 

"  And  would  not  every  man  in  Rud  Euver  justify 
me  for  firing  first  in  self-defence  ? " 

Conscience  again  said  "  No ! " 

Here  the  hunter  uttered  a  savage  oath,  to  which 
Conscience  made  no  reply,  for  Conscience  never 
speaks  back  or  engages  in  disputation. 

We  need  not  attempt  further  to  analyse  the 
workings  of  sophistry  in  the  brain  of  a  murderer. 
Suffice  it  to  say  that  when  the  man  had  finished 
his  supper  he  had  completely,  though  not  satis- 
factorily, justified  himself  in  his  own  eyeSc  There 
was,  he  felt,  a  disagreeable  undercurrent  of  un- 
easiness ;  but  this  might  have  been  the  result  of  fear 
as  to  how  the  Canadian  half-breeds  and  friends  of 
the  slain  man  would  regard  the  matter  in  the  event 
of  its  being  found  out. 

There  was  reason  for  anxiety  on  this  head,  for 
poor  Perrin  was  a  great  favourite  among  his 
comrades,  while  Cloudbrow  was  very  much  the 
reverse. 

Having  finished  the  supper  which  he  had 
purchased  at  such  a  terrible  price,  the  young  man 
gathered  his  things  together,  packed  the  provisions 
on  his  back,  put  on  his  snow-shoes  and  left  the  scene 
of  the  murder. 

Although  a  dark  night,  there  was  sufficient  moon- 


OF  TlIK  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


39 


ft 


light  to  enable  him  to  pick  his  steps,  but  he  had  not 
advanced  more  than  two  miles  when  he  came  upon 
the  track  of  a  party  that  had  preceded  him.  This 
rendered  the  walking  more  easy,  and  as  he  plodded 
along  he  reflected  that  the  wolves  would  soon  find 
Perrin's  body,  and,  by  tearing  it  to  pieces  render 
recognition  of  the  victim  impossible. 

Suddenly  it  occurred  to  him  that  if  any  of  the 
scattered  band  of  hunters  should  come  on  the  camp 
before  the  wolves  had  time  to  do  their  work,  the 
print  of  his  snow-shoes  might  tell  a  tale — for  snow- 
shoes  were  of  various  shapes  and  sizes,  and  most  of 
his  companions  in  the  Settlement  might  be  pretty 
well  acquainted  with  the  shape  of  his.  The  danger 
of  such  a  contretemps  was  not  great,  but,  to  make 
quite  sure  that  it  should  not  occur,  he  turned  round 
and  walked  straight  back  on  his  track  to  the  camp  he 
had  just  left — thus  obliterating,  or,  rather,  confus- 
ing the  track,  so  as  to  render  recognition  improbable. 
As  he  walked  over  it  a  third  time,  in  resuming  his 
march  to  the  Settlement,  all  danger  on  this  ground, 
he  considered,  was  effectually  counteracted.  Of 
course,  when  he  reached  the  tracks  of  the  party 
before  mentioned,  all  trace  of  his  own  track  was 
necessarily  lost  among  these. 

That  "murder  will  out"  is  supposed  to  be  an 
unquestionable  truism.  We  nevertheless  question 
it  very  much ;  for,  while  the  thousands  of  cases  of 
murder  that  have  been  discovered  are  obvious,  the 


i 

i 
) 

i 


m 


I 


40 


THE  BUFFALO  KUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


vast  number,  it  may  be,  that  have  never  been  found 
out  are  not  obvious,  however  probable. 

The  case  we  are  now  describing  seemed  likely  to 
belong  to  the  class  which  remains  a  mystery  till 
altogether  forgotten.  Nevertheless  Nemesis  was  on 
the  wing. 

While  Duncan  M'Kay  junior  was  thus  pushing 
his  way  over  the  plains  in  the  direction  of  Red 
River  Settlement,  two  poor  half-breed  women  were 
toiling  slowly  over  the  same  plains  behind  him, 
bound  for  the  same  haven  of  hoped-for  and  much- 
needed  rest  and  refreshment.  The  poor  creatures 
had  been  recently  made  widows.  The  husband  of 
one,  Louis  Blanc,  had  been  killed  by  Indians  dur- 
ing this  hunt ;  that  of  the  other,  Antoine  Pierre,  had 
met  his  death  by  being  thrown  from  his  horse 
when  running  the  buffalo.  Both  women  were  in 
better  condition  than  many  of  the  other  hunters' 
wives,  for  they  had  started  on  the  homeward  jour- 
ney with  a  better  supply  of  meat,  which  had  not 
yet  been  exhausted. 

It  happened  that  Marie  Blanc  and  Annette  Pierre 
came  upon  M'Kay's  camp  soon  after  he  left  it  the 
second  time.  Here  they  prepared  to  spend  the 
night,  but,  on  discovering  marks  of  fresh  blood  about, 
they  made  a  search,  and  soon  came  on  the  unburied 
corpse  of  the  murdered  man,  lying  behind  a  bush. 
They  recognised  it  at  once,  for  Perrin  had  been  well 
known,  as  well  as  much  liked,  in  the  Settlement. 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


41 


Neither  of  the  women  was  demonstrative.  They 
did  not  express  much  feeling,  though  they  were 
undoubtedly  shocked ;  but  they  dug  a  hole  in  the 
snow  with  their  snow-shoes,  and  buried  the  body 
of  the  hunter  therein — having  first  carefully  ex- 
amined the  wound  in  his  breast,  and  removed  the 
poor  man's  coat,  which  exhibited  a  burnt  hole  in 
front,  as  well  as  a  hole  in  the  back,  for  the  bullet 
had  gone  quite  through  him. 

Then  they  returned  to  the  camp,  and  made  a 
careful  examination  of  it;  but  nothing  was  found 
there  which  could  throw  light  on  the  subject  of 
who  was  the  murderer.  Whether  a  comrade  or 
an  Indian  had  done  the  deed  there  was  nothing 
to  show ;  but  that  a  murder  had  been  committed 
they  could  not  doubt,  for  it  was  physically  almost 
impossible  that  a  man  could  have  shot  himself  in 
the  chest,  either  by  accident  or  intention,  with  one 
of  the  long-barrelled  trading  guns  in  use  among  the 
buffalo  hunters. 

Another  point,  justifying  the  supposition  of  foul 
play,  was  the  significant  fact  that  Perrin's  gun,  with 
his  name  rudely  carved  on  the  stock,  still  lay  in 
the  camp  undischarged. 

"  See — here  is  something,"  said  one  woman  to  the 
other  in  the  Cree  tongue,  as  they  were  about  to  quit 
the  camp. 

She  held  up  a  knife  which  she  had  found  half- 
buried  near  the  fire. 


ii 

t 

\ 

) 


5 

I 


4d 


THE  BUFFALO  KUNNEKS ;  A  TALE 


"It  is  not  a  common  scalping-knife,"  said  the 
other  woman.    "  It  is  the  knife  of  a  settler." 

The  weapon  in  question  was  one  of  the  large 
sheath-knives  which  many  of  the  recently  arrived 
settlers  had  brought  with  them  from  their  native 
land.  Most  of  these  differed  a  little  in  size  and 
form  from  each  other,  but  all  of  them  were  very 
different  from  the  ordinary  scalping-knives  supplied 
by  the  fur-traders  to  the  half-breeds  and  Indians. 

"I  see  no  name  on  it — no  mark,"  said  the 
woman  who  found  it,  after  a  critical  inspection. 
Her  companion  examined  it  with  equal  care  cind 
similar  result. 

The  two  women  had  at  first  intended  to  encamp 
at  this  spot,  but  now  they  determined  to  push 
forward  to  the  Settlement  as  fast  as  their  exhausted 
condition  permitted,  carrying  the  knife,  with  the 
coat  and  gun  of  the  murdered  man,  along  with 
them. 


vi;>j4-»-*iii— .'•  ^•;    K  t'.'i  i^MA^j'af H^Vi^A 


OF  THE  EED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


43 


CHAPTER    V. 


SAVED. 


> 

I 


Duncan  M'Kay  senior  was  dreaming  of,  and 
gloating  over,  the  flesh-pots  of  Red  River,  and  his 
amiable  daughter  was  rambling  over  the  green 
carpet  of  the  summer  prairies,  when  the  sun  arose 
and  shone  upon  the  bushes  which  surrounded  their 
winter  camp — Starvation  Camp,  as  the  old  man  had 
styled  it. 

There  is  no  saying  how  long  Duncan  would  have 
gloated,  and  the  fair  Elspie  wandered,  if  a  hair  of 
the  buffalo  robe  on  which  the  former  lay  had  not 
entered  his  nostril,  and  caused  him  to  sneeze. 

Old  M'Kay's  sneeze  was  something  to  be  re- 
membered when  once  heard.  Indeed  it  was  some- 
thing that  could  not  be  forgotten !  From  the  pro 
foundest  depths  of  his  person  it  seemed  to  burst,  and 
how  his  nose  sustained  the  strain  without  splitting 
has  remained  one  of  the  mysteries  of  the  Nor'-West 
unto  this  day.  It  acted  like  an  electric  shock  on 
Elspie,  who  sat  bolt  upright  at  once  with  a  scared 
look  that  was  quite  in  keeping  with  her  toozled  hair. 


'» 

'i 
> 

t 
,3 

i 

if 

i. 

t 

;3 


44 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


'I!'!! 


"  Oh !  daddy,  what  a  fright  you  gave  me  1 "  she 
said,  remonstratively. 

"  It  iss  goot  seventeen  years  an'  more  that  you 
hev  had  to  get  used  to  it,  whatever,"  growled  the  old 
man.    "  I  suppose  we  've  got  nothin*  for  breakfast." 

He  raised  himself  slowly,  and  gazed  at  Elspie 
with  a  disconsolate  expression. 

"  Nothing,"  returned  the  girl  with  a  look  of  pro- 
found woe. 

It  is  said  that  when  things  are  at  the  worst 
they  are  sure  to  mend.  It  may  be  so  :  the  sayings 
of  man  are  sometimes  true.  Whether  or  not  the 
circumstances  of  Elspie  and  old  M'Kay  were  at  the 
worst  is  an  open  question;  but  there  can  be  no 
doubt  that  they  began  to  mend  just  about  that 
time,  for  the  girl  had  not  quite  got  rid  of  her  dis- 
consolate feelings  when  the  faint  but  merry  tinkle 
of  sleigh-bells  was  heard  in  the  frosty  air. 

The  startled  look  of  sudden  surprise  and  pro- 
found attention  is  interesting  to  behold,  whether  in 
eld  or  young.  It  is  a  condition  of  being  that 
uliterly  blots  out  self  for  a  brief  moment  in  the 
person  affected,  and  allows  the  mind  and  frame  for 
once  to  have  free  unconscious  play. 

Elspie  said,  "  Sh — ! "  and  gazed  aside  with  wide 
and  lustrous  eyes,  head  a  little  on  one  side,  a  hand 
and  forefinger  slightly  raised,  as  if  to  enforce 
silence,  and  her  graceful  figure  bent  forward — a 
petrifaction  of  intensely  attentive  loveliness. 


n 


»  »» 


she 


lat  you 
the  old 
kfast." 
Elspie 

of  pro- 

!  worst 
jayings 
lot  the 
at  the 
be  no 
that 
er  dis- 
tinkle 

I  pro- 
ber in 
that 
the 
le  for 

wide 
hand 
force 
d — a 


m 


I 
I 

tl 
) 

t 

8 

it 

I 


ELSriE  SAID,  •«SII 1  —Page  44 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


45 


Old  M'Kay  said  "  Ho ! "  and,  with  both  hands 
resting  on  the  ground  to  prop  him  up,  eyes  and 
mouth  wide  open,  and  breath  restrained,  presented 
the  very  personification  of  petrified  stupidity. 

Another  moment,  and  the  sound  became  too  dis- 
tinct to  admit  of  a  doubt. 

"  Here  they  are  at  long  last ! "  exclaimed  the  old 
man,  rising  with  unwonted  alacrity  for  his  years. 

"Thank  God!"  ejaculated  Elspie,  springing  up 
and  drawing  a  shawl  round  her  shoulders,  at  the 
same  time  making  some  hasty  and  futile  attempts 
to  reduce  the  confusion  of  her  hair. 

It  need  scarcely  be  said  that  this  was  the  arrival 
of  the  rescue-party  of  which  Daniel  Davidson  was 
in  command.  Before  the  starving  pair  had  time  to 
get  fairly  on  their  legs,  Daniel  strode  into  the  camp 
and  seized  Elspie  in  his  arms. 

We  need  not  repeat  what  he  said,  for  it  was  not 
meant  to  be  made  public,  but  no  such  reticence  need 
trouble  us  in  regard  to  old  Duncan. 

"Hoot!  Taniel,"  said  he,  somewhat  peevishly, 
"  keep  your  coortin'  till  efter  breakfast,  man !  It  iss 
a  wolf  that  will  be  livin'  inside  o'  me  for  the  last 
few  tays — a  hungry  wolf  too — an'  nothin'  for  him 
to  eat.  That 's  right,  Ok^matan,  on  wi'  the  kettle ; 
it  iss  yourself  that  knows  what  it  iss  to  sterve. 
Blow  up  the  fire,  Peter  Tavidson.  You  're  a  cliver 
boy  for  your  age,  an'  hes  goot  lungs,  I  make  no 
doubt." 


I 


t 

3 

i 

5 


i 


46 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


"  That  I  have,  Mr.  M'Kay,  else  I  should  not  be 
here,"  said  the  lad,  laughing,  as  he  knelt  before  the 
embers  of  the  fire,  and  blew  them  into  a  blaze. 

"  Wow !  Dan,  hev  ye  not  a  pit  pemmican  handy  ?  " 
asked  M'Kay.  "  It  iss  little  I  care  for  cookin'  just 
now." 

"Here  you  are,"  said  Dan,  taking  a  lump  of 
the  desired  article  from  his  wallet  and  handing  it 
to  the  impatient  man ;  at  the  same  time  giving  a 
morsel  to  Elspie.  "  I  knew  you  would  want  it  in 
a  hurry,  and  kept  it  handy.  Where  is  Duncan  ?  I 
thought  he  was  with  you." 

"  So  he  wass,  Taniel,  when  you  left  us  to  go  to 
Eud  Euver,  but  my  son  Tuncan  was  never  fond  o* 
stickin'  to  his  father.  He  left  us,  an*  no  wan  knows 
where  he  iss  now.  Stervin,  maybe,  like  the  rest 
of  us." 

"  I  hope  not,"  said  Elspie,  while  her  sire  continued 
his  breakfast  with  manifest  satisfaction.  "  He  went 
off  to  search  for  buffalo  with  Perrin  and  several 
others.  They  said  they  would  return  to  us  if  they 
found  anything.  But,  as  they  have  not  come  back, 
we  suppose  they  must  have  been  unsuccessful.  Did 
you  meet  any  of  the  poor  people  on  the  way  out, 
Dan  ? " 

"  Ay,  we  met  some  of  them,"  replied  the  hunter, 
in  a  sad  tone.  "  All  s'.ruggling  to  make  their  way 
back  to  the  Settlement,  and  all  more  or  less  starving. 
We  helped  them  what  we  could,  but  some  were 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


47 


not  be 
fore  the 
;e. 

andy  ? " 
:in'  just 

imp  of 
iding  it 
iving  a 
it  it  in 
an?    I 

>  go  to 
fond  o' 
knows 
le  rest 

tinned 
3  went 
everal 

they 
back, 

Did 
y  out, 

anter, 

r  way 

'ving. 

were 


past  help ;  and  we  came  upon  two  or  three  that  had 
fallen  in  their  tracks  and  died  in  the  snow.  But 
we  have  roused  the  Settlement,  and  there  are  many 
rescue-parties  out  in  all  directions  now,  scouring 
the  plains  " 

"  You  hev  stirred  it  enough,  Ok^matan,*'  said  old 
M'Kay,  referring  to  the  kettle  of  food  which  was 
being  prepared.  "Here,  fill  my  pannikin:  I  can 
wait  no  longer." 

"  Whenever  you  have  finished  breakfast  we  must 
start  off  home,"  said  Davidson,  helping  Elspie  to 
some  of  the  much-needed  and  not  yet  warmed  so  ip, 
which  was  quickly  made  by  mixing  pemmican  w  th 
flour  and  water.  "  I  have  brought  two  sleds,  so  tliat 
you  and  your  father  may  ride,  and  we  will  carry  the 
provisions.  We  never  know  when  the  gale  may 
break  out  again." 

"Or  when  heavy  snow  may  come  on,"  added 
Peter,  who  was  by  that  time  busy  with  his  own 
breakfast. 

Ok^matan  occupied  himself  in  stirring  the  con- 
tents of  the  large  kettle,  and  occasionally  devouring 
a  mouthful  of  pemm.ican  uncooked. 

An  hour  later,  and  they  were  making  for  home 
almost  as  fast  as  the  rescue-party  had  travelled 
out — the  provisions  transferred  to  the  strong  backs 
of  their  rescuers — old  M'Kay  and  Elspie  carefully 
wrapped  up  in  furs,  reposing  on  the  two  sledges. 


0 


t 

I 

si 

i 

i 


48 


THE  BUFFALO  KUl^NEKS  :   A  TALE 


CHAPTER   VI. 


DISCORD  AND  DECEIT,   ETC. 

It  was  found,  on  their  arrival  at  the  home  of 
Duncan  M'Kay  senior,  that  Duncan  junior  had 
got  there  before  them,  he  having  been  met  and 
brought  in  by  one  of  the  settlers  who  had  gone  out 
with  his  cariole  to  do  what  he  could  for  the  hunters. 
The  two  women  who  discovered  the  body  of  Perrin, 
however,  had  not  yet  arrived,  and  nothing  was 
known  of  the  murder  in  the  Settlement. 

"  It  iss  little  troubled  you  wass,  what  came  over 
us,"  remarked  old  Duncan  angrily,  on  entering  his 
house,  and  findiLg  his  younger  son  engaged  with  a 
pipe  beside  the  kitchen  fire. 

"  An'  how  could  /  kno\7  where  you  wass ;  efter  I 
had  been  huntin'  for  nothin'  for  two  days  ? "  retorted 
his  son.  "  Wass  I  to  think  you  would  be  stoppin' 
in  the  same  camp  till  you  died  ?  Wass  it  not  more 
likely  that  some  wan  would  find  you  an'  bring  you 
in — as  they  did  ? " 

"  No  thanks  to  you  that  they  did,  Tuncan,  what- 
ever.   Where  did  you  leave  the  other  boys  ? " 


i  * 


OF  THE  llED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


49 


iome  of 
ior  had 
aet  and 
[one  out 
hunters. 
Perrin, 
ig  was 

le  over 
ng  his 
with  a 

fter  I 
torted 
oppin' 
more 
gyou 

what- 


"  How  should  T  know  ? "  returned  the  son  sharply ; 
"  they  dropped  off — wan  here  an'  wan  there — sayin' 
they  would  try  for  a  buffalo  in  wan  place  or  another, 
or,  that  they  would  rest  awhile ;  an'  so  I  wass  left 
by  myself.  1  found  it  quite  enough  to  look  efter 
number  wan." 

"  It  hes  always  been  as  much,  that,  as  ye  could 
manitch,  Tuncan,  even  when  things  wass  goin'  easy," 
said  the  old  man  with  a  sarcastic  laugh,  that  induced 
the  young  man  to  rise  and  quit  the  room. 

He  went  towards  a  small  shop,  or  store,  as  such 
places  were  styled  in  the  Nor' -West.  It  fell  to  his 
lot  in  the  family  arrangements  to  look  after  and 
manage  this  store.  Indeed  the  youth's  anxiety 
for  the  ease  and  comfort  of  "number  wan"  had 
induced  him  to  select  the  post  as  being  a  part  of 
the  family  duties  that  was  peculiarly  suited  to 
himself. 

On  reaching  the  store  he  went  straight  to  a  large 
roll  of  Canadian  twist  tobacco,  cut  off  a  piece, 
refilled  his  pipe,  and,  sitting  down  on  a  bale  began 
or,  rather,  continued  to  smoke.  He  had  not  been 
seated  long  when  the  door  opened,  and  the  head 
of  a  half-breed  peeped  cautiously  in  with  an  un- 
commonly sly  look. 

"That  'you,  FranQois  La  Certe?"  said  M'Kay 
rather  sternly,  for  he  knew  the  man  well.  "  Whal 
iss  it  you  will  be  wantin'  now  ? " 

Franqois  wanted  many  things — things  almost  too 

D 


w 


50 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TAT  E 


numerous  to  mention ;  but,  first,  he  would  pay  his 
debts  to  Cloudbrow. 

"  Come,  that '.««  GuriCthing  new,"  said  M'Kay  with 
a  cynical  laugh.  "You  must  have  come  by  a 
fortune,  or  committed  a  robbery  before  ye  would 
be  so  honest.    How  much  are  you  goin'  to  pay  ? " 

"Tlic  sledge  that  you  lent  me,  I  have  brought 
back,"  said  th3  half-breed  with  a  deprecatory  air. 

"  So,  you  call  returning  o  loan  paying  your  debts  ? " 
said  Duncan. 

I^a  Certe  did  not  quite  say  that,  but  ho  thought 
it  bore  some  resemblance  to  a  payment  to  account, 
and  at  all  events  was  proof  of  his  good  intentions. 

"  And  on  the  strength  of  that  you  '11  want  plenty 
more  credit,  I  hev  no  doubt." 

"  No — not  plenty,"  said  La  Certe,  with  the  earnest 
air  of  a  man  who  is  exposing  his  whole  soul  to 
inspection,  and  who  means  to  act  this  time  with 
the  strictest  sincerity,  to  say  nothing  of  honesty. 
"  It  is  only  a  little  that  I  want.  Not  much.  Just 
enough  to  keep  body  and  soul  from  sayin'  good-bye." 

"  But  you  have  not  paid  a  fraction  of  your  old 
debt.  How  will  you  be  expectin*  to  meet  the  new 
one  ? " 

Oh !  La  Certe  could  easily  explain  that.  He  was 
going  off  immediately  to  hunt  and  trap,  and  would 
soon  return  with  a  heavy  load,  for  there  were  plenty 
of  animals  about.  Then  in  the  spring,  which  was 
near  at  hand,  he  meant  to  fish,  or  go  to  the  plains 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


51 


pay  his 

\y  with 

J  by  a 

would 

ly?" 
irought 
air. 
ebts  ? " 


lought 
icount, 
ions, 
plenty 


arnest 
lul  to 

with 
lesty. 

Just 
bye." 
r  old 

new 

was 
ould 
i3uty 

was 
lains 


with  the  hunters,  and  return  laden  with  bags  of 
pemmican,  bales  of  dried  meat,  and  buffalo  robes 
enough  to  pay  off  all  his  debts,  and  leave  something 
over  to  enable  him  to  spend  the  winter  in  luxurious 
idleness. 

"And  you  expect  me  to  believe  all  that  non- 
sense 1 "  said  M'Kay,  sternly. 

La  Certe  was  hurt.  Of  course  he  expected  to  be 
believed !  His  feelings  were  injured,  but  he  was  of 
a  forgiving  disposition  and  would  say  no  r^ore  about 
it.  He  had  expected  better  treatment,  however, 
from  one  who  had  known  him  so  long. 

"  A  trip  to  the  plains  requires  more  than  powder 
and  shot,"  said  the  store-keeper ;  "  where  will  you  be 
goin'  to  get  a  horse  an*  cart  ?  for  you  can  hev  mine 
QO  longer." 

"P-^^hamp,  he  promise  to  sole  me  a  horse,  an' 
Mrs.  Davis'n  will  loan  me  a  cart,"  returned  the 
half-breed,  with  lofty  independence. 

"Hm!  an'  you  will  be  returnin'  the  cart  an' 
payin'  for  the  horse  when  the  hunt  is  over,  I 
suppose  ? " 

Yes,  that  was  exactly  the  idea  that  was  in  La 
Certe's  brain,  and  which,  he  hoped  and  fully  ex- 
pected, to  reduce  to  practice  in  course  of  time — if 
Duncan  M'Kay  would  only  assist  him  by  making 
him  a  few  advances  at  that  present  time. 

"  Well,  what  do  you  want  ? "  asked  M'Kay,  getting 
off  the  bale. 


i 

9 


0 


w 

I 

3 

i 

J 

I 


52 


THE  BUFFALO  KUNNEUS  :  A  TALE 


The  half-breed  wanted  a  good  many  things.  As 
he  was  going  off  in  the  course  of  a  few  days,  and 
might  not  be  able  to  return  for  a  long  time,  he 
might  as  well  take  with  him  even  a  few  things  that 
he  did  not  absolutely  need  at  the  moment.  Of 
course  he  wanted  a  good  supply  of  powder,  shot,  and 
ball.  Without  that  little  or  nothing  could  be  done. 
Then  a  new  axe,  as  his  old  one  was  much  worn — 
the  steel  almost  gone — and  it  was  well  known 
that  a  trapper  without  an  axe  was  a  very  helpless 
creature.  A  tin  kettle  was,  of  course,  an  absolute 
necessity;  and  the  only  one  he  possessed  had  a 
small  hole  in  it.  A  few  awls  to  enable  him  to 
mend  his  bark  canoe  when  open  water  came,  and  a 
couple  of  steel  traps,  some  gun-flints,  and,  0  yes,  he 
had  almost  forgotten  a  most  essential  thing — twine 
to  make  a  net,  and  some  fish-hooks. 

"It  iss  a  regular  outfit  you  will  be  wanting," 
remarked  the  store-keeper,  as  he  handed  over  the 
various  articles. 

0  no — not  a  regular  one — only  a  very  little  one, 
considering  the  length  of  time  he  should  be  away, 
and  the  wealth  with  which  he  would  return.  But 
again  he  suddenly  remembered  that  he  had  forgotten 
something  else. 

"  Well,  what  iss  it  ? " 

Some  glover's  needles  and  sinews  for  making 
leather  coats  and  moccasins.  Needles  and  thread 
and  scissors,  for  it  was  quite  clear  that  people  could 


OF  THE  RED  RIVEU  PLAINS. 


53 


gs.    As 
ys,  and 
me,  he 
gs  that 
It.     Of 
ot,  and 
3  done. 
J^orn — 
Icnown 
3lpless 
solute 
had  a 
im  to 
and  a 
es,  he 
twine 


tf 


iing, 
b  the 


one, 
way, 

But 
>tten 


ang 
'ead 
)uld 


not  live  without  suitable  clothing.     A  new  capote, 

also,  and and a  yard  or  two  of  scarlet  cloth 

witli  a  few  beads. 

As  he  made  the  last  request.  La  Certe  attempted 
to  speak  insinuatingly,  and  to  look  humble. 

"  Come,  that  iss  pure  extravagance,"  said  M'Kay, 
remonstrating. 

La  Certe  could  not,  dare  not,  face  his  wife  without 
these  articles.  He  pleaded  earnestly.  "  Slowfoot  is 
so  clever  wi'  the  needle,"  he  said.  "  See  !  she  send 
you  a  pair  of  moccasins." 

The  wily  man  here  drew  from  the  breast  of  his 
capote  a  pair  of  beautifully  made  moccasins,  soft  as 
chamois  leather,  and  richly  ornamented  with  dyed 
quills  of  the  porcupine. 

M'Kay  laughed;  nevertheless  he  swallowed  the 
bait  and  was  pleased.  He  finally  handed  the  goods 
to  La  Certe,  who,  when  he  had  obtained  all  that 
he  could  possibly  squeeze  out  of  the  store-keeper, 
bundled  up  the  whole,  made  many  solemn  protesta- 
tions of  gratitude  and  honest  intentions,  and  went 
off  to  cheer  Slowfoot  with  the  news  of  his  suc- 
cess. 

It  chanced  that  Antoine  Dechamp,  the  very  man 
about  whom  he  had  been  talking  to  Duncan  M'Kay, 
had  dropped  in  to  see  him  and  his  spouse,  and  was 
sitting  beside  the  fire  smoking  when  he  entered. 
Displaying  his  possessions  with  much  pride,  he 
assured  Dechamp  that  he  had  paid  for  the  whole 


P 

0 

I 

ft 


) 

t 

t 
5 

I 

\ 

15 


5i 


THE  BUFFALO  EUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


I; 
I''' 

;i 

!  1 1 


I    i 


•-'I  •  M 


'!i! 


,1 


outfit,  and  meant  to  return  in  the  spring  a  rich  man 
with  means  enough  to  buy  a  horse  and  cart,  and 
start  with  the  buffalo  hunters  for  the  plains. 

"  You  have  a  horse  to  sell — they  say  ?"  he  remarked 
to  his  friend  in  a  careless  way. 

"  Yes — and  a  good  one  too,"  answered  Dechamp. 

"  Well,  if  you  will  loan  him  to  me  in  the  spring, 
I  will  pay  for  ^">im  when  I  come  back.  It  takes  all 
I  have  to  fit  me  out  to  start,  you  see." 

Dechamp  did  not  quite  see  his  way  to  that — but 
there  was  plenty  of  time  to  think  over  it ! 

"Have  you  heard,"  said  Dechamp,  willing  to 
change  the  subject,  "  there  is  some  talk  that  Perrin 
has  been  killed  ?  George  M'Dermid  was  out,  like 
many  others,  huntin'  about  for  the  starvin'  people, 
an'  he  came  across  the  wives  of  Blanc  and  Pierre — 
poor  things!  they're  widows  now,  for  Blanc  and 
Pierre  are  both  dead.  Well,  the  women  had  well- 
nigh  given  in.  T  had  dropped  down,  they  were  so 
tired,  and  were  crawlin'  on  their  hands  and  knees 
when  M'Dermid  found  them.  I  didn't  hear  all  the 
outs  and  ins  of  it,  but  there  is  no  doubt  that  poor 
Perrin  has  been  murdered,  for  he  was  shot  right 
through  the  breast." 

"  Perhaps  he  shot  hisself,"  suggested  La  Certe. 

"No — that  could  not  be,  for  the  women  have 
brought  his  coat,  which  shows  that  the  ball  went 
in  at  the  breast  and  came  straight  out  at  the  back. 
If  he  had  shot  himself  he  must  have  pulled  the 


t 

s| 

s| 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


55 


trigger  with  his  toe,  an'  then  the  ball  would  have 
slanted  up  from  his  breast  to  somewhere  about  his 
shoulders." 

"It  was  a  Saulteaux,  may  be,"  said  Slowfoot,  who 
had  been  listening  with  all  the  eagerness  of  a 
gossip. 

"  There  were  no  marks  of  Eedskins'  snow-shoes 
about,"  returned  Dechamp,  "  an'  the  tracks  were  too 
confused  to  make  them  out.  A  knife  was  found, 
but  there  were  no  marks  about  it  to  tell  who  owned 
it — only  it  was  a  settler's  knife,  but  there  are  lots 
of  them  about,  an'  many  have  changed  hands  since 
the  settlers  came.'* 

At  the  time  we  write  of,  the  colony  of  Red 
River  of  the  north  was  in  a  very  unhappy  and 
disorganised  condition.  There  were  laws  indeed, 
but  there  was  no  authority  or  force  sufficiently 
strong  to  apply  the  laws,  and  discord  reigned  be- 
cause of  the  two  great  fur  companies — the  Hud- 
son's Bay,  and  the  Nor'- West — which  opposed  each 
other  with  extreme  bitterness,  carrying  fire-water, 
dissension,  and  disaster  all  over  the  wilderness 
of  Rupert's  Land.  Happily  the  two  companies 
coalesced  in  the  year  1821,  and  from  that  date, 
onward,  comparative  peace  has  reigned  under  the 
mild  sway  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company. 

But  at  the  period  which  we  describe  the  coalition 
had  not  taken  place,  and  many  of  the  functionaries 
of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  in  Red  River,  from 


I 


i 

3 

I* 
I* 


56 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


I  I 


II 
II 


l! 


I 

iii 

III! 


the  Governor  downward,  seem  to  h.^ve  been  entirely 
demoralised — if  we  are  to  believe  the  reports  of 
contemporary  historians. 

Some  time  previous  to  this,  the  Earl  of  Selkirk — 
chiefly  from  philanthropic  views,  it  is  said — re- 
solved to  send  a  colony  to  Eed  River.  At  different 
times  bands  of  Scotch,  Swiss,  Danes,  and  others, 
made  their  appearance  in  the  Settlement.  They 
had  been  sent  out  by  the  agents  of  the  Earl,  but 
there  was  a  great  deal  of  mismanagement  and 
misunderstanding,  both  as  to  tlie  motives  and  inten- 
tions of  the  Earl.  The  result  was  that  the  half- 
breeds  of  Eed  River — influenced,  it  is  said,  by  the 
Nor'-West  Company — received  the  new-comers  with 
suspicion  and  ill-will.  The  Indians  followed  the 
lead  of  the  half-breeds,  to  whom  they  were  allied. 
Not  only  was  every  sort  of  obstruction  thrown  in 
the  way  of  the  unfortunate  immigrants,  but  more 
than  once  during  those  first  years  they  were  driven 
from  the  colony,  and  their  homesteads  were  burned 
to  the  ground. 

There  must  have  been  more  than  the  usual  spirit 
of  indomitable  resolution  in  those  people,  however, 
for  notwithstanding  all  the  opposition  and  hardship 
they  had  to  endure,  they  returned  again  and  again 
to  their  farms,  rebuilt  their  dwellings,  cultivated 
their  fields,  and,  so  t^  speak,  compelled  prosperity 
to  smile  on  them — and  that,  too,  although  several 
times  the  powers  of  Nature,  in  the  shape  of  grass 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


57 


entirely 
orts  of 

Hdrk— 
id — re- 
fferent 
others, 

They 
rl,  but 
t  and 
inten- 

half- 
•y  the 
s  with 
i  the 
illied. 
m  in 
more 
riven 
rned 

pirit 

3ver, 

ship 

?ain 

xted 

rity 

Bral 

iss 


hoppers  and  disastrous  floods,  seemed  to  league 
with  men  in  seeking  their  destruction. 

Perhaps  the  Scottish  element  among  the  immi- 
grants had  much  to  do  with  this  resolute  perse- 
verance. Possibly  the  religious  element  in  the 
Scotch  had  more  to  do  with  it  still. 

The  disastrous  winter  which  we  have  slightly 
sketched  was  one  of  the  many  troubles  with  which 
not  only  the  new  comers,  but  all  parties  in  the 
colony,  were  at  this  time  afflicted. 


> 


t 

5 

t 

\ 


ii 


58 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


iili ; 

!  W   '■ 

'l 


■r\ 


CHAPTEK    VII. 

VIXEN  DEOVEIIKD  AND  WOLVES  DEFEATED. 

With  ir.uch  labour  and  skill  had  the  Davidsons 
and  M'Kays  erected  two  timber  cottages  side  by 
side  in  the  land  of  their  adoption. 

These  two  families  were  among  the  first  band  of 
settlers.  They  were  very  different  in  character — 
one  being  Highland,  the  other  Lowland  Scotch, 
but  they  were  more  or  less  united  by  sympathy, 
intermarriage,  and  long  residence  beside  each  other 
on  the  slopes  of  the  Grampian  Hills,  so  that,  on  the 
voyage  out,  they  made  a  compact  that  they  should 
stick  by  each  other,  and  strive,  and  work,  and  fight 
the  battle  of  life  together  in  the  new  land. 

All  the  members  of  the  Davidson  family  were 
sterling,  sedate,  hearty,  and  thorough -going.  Daniel 
and  Peter  were  what  men  style  "dependable"  fellows, 
and  bore  strong  resemblance  to  their  father,  who 
died  almost  immediately  after  their  arrival  in  the 
new  country.  Little  Jessie  was  like  her  mother,  a 
sort  of  bottomless  well  of  sympathy,  into  which 
oceans  of  joy  or  sorrow  might  be  poured  without 
causing    an    overflow — except,   perchance,   at    tl\e 


Pi 
tl 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


69 


eyelids — and  out  of  which  the  waters  of  cousolation 
might  be  pumped  for  evermore  without  pumping 
dry.  The  idea  of  self  never  sugg^s^^^ed  itself  in  the 
presence  of  these  two.  The  consequence  was 
that  everybody  adored  them.  It  was  rather  a 
selfish  adoration,  we  fear,  nevertheless  it  was  ex- 
tremely delightful — to  the  adorers,  we  mean — and 
doubtless  not  unpleasant  to  the  adorrd. 

The  love  of  God,  in  Christ,  was  the  foundation 
of  their  characters. 

Of  the  M'Kay  family  we  cannot  speak  so  con- 
fidently. Elspie,  indeed,  was  all  that  could  be 
desired,  and  Fergus  was  in  all  respects  a  sterling 
man ;  but  the  head  of  the  family  was,  as  we  have 
seen,  open  to  improvement  in  many  respects,  and 
Duncan  junior  was  of  that  heart-breaking  char- 
acter which  is  known  as  ne'er-do-weel.  Possibly, 
if  differently  treated  by  his  father,  he  might  have 
been  a  better  man.  As  it  was,  he  was  unprincipled 
and  hasty  of  temper. 

Little  wonder  that,  when  thrown  together  during 
?.  long  voyage — to  an  almost  unknown  land — Elspie 
M'Kay  and  Daniel  Davidson  should  fall  into  that 
condition  which  is  common  to  all  mankind,  and 
less  wonder  that,  being  a  daring  youth  with  a 
resolute  will,  Daniel  should  manage  to  induce  the 
pliant,  loving  Elspie,  to  plight  her  troth  while  they 
were  gazing  over  the  ship's  side  at  the  first  iceberg 
they  met.     We  may  as  well  hark  back  here  a  little, 


t 
i 

'i 
) 

0 

t 

3 

t 

5 

! 

') 


60 


THE  LUFFALO  RUN!<ERS:   A  TALk. 


I  III 
I,  .ii 

!!i 


m 


in 


and  very  briefly  sketch  the  incident.  It  may  serve 
as  a  guide  to  others. 

The  two  were  standing — according  to  the  report 
of  the  bo's'n,  who  witnessed  the  whole  affair — 
"  abait  the  main  shrouds  squintin'  over  the  weather 
gangway."  We  are  not  quite  sure  of  the  exact 
words  used  by  that  discreditable  bo's'n,  but  these 
are  something  like  them.  It  was  moonlight  and 
dead  calm ;  therefore  propitious,  so  far,  to  Daniel's 
design — for  Daniel  undoubtedly  had  a  design  that 
night,  obvious  to  his  own  mind,  and  clearly  defined 
like  the  great  iceberg,  though,  like  it  too,  some- 
what hazy  in  detail. 

"What  a  glorious,  magnificent  object!"  ex- 
claimed Elspie,  gazing  in  wonder  at  the  berg,  the 
pinnacles  of  which  rose  considerably  above  the 
mast-head. 

"Yes,  very  glorious,  very  magnificent!"  said 
Daniel,  gazing  into  the  maiden's  eyes,  and  utterly 
regardless  of  the  berg. 

"  I  wonder  how  such  a  huge  mass  ever  manages 
to  melt,"  said  Elspie — for  the  human  mind,  even  in 
pretty  girls,  is  discursive. 

"  /  wonder  it  does  not  melt  at  once,"  said  Dan, 
with  pointed  emphasis. 

"What  do  you  mean?"  she  asked,  turning  her 
eyes  in  considerable  astonishment  from  the  berg  to 
the  man. 

"  I  mean,"  said  he,  "  that  under  the  influence  of 


OF  THE  KED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


61 


your  eyes  the  iceberg  ought  to  melt  straight  away. 
They  have  melted  my  heart,  Elspie,  and  that  has 
been  an  iceberg,  I  find,  till  now." 

He  seized  her  hpid.  It  had  all  come  on  so  sud- 
denly that  poor  Elspie  was  quite  unprepared  for  it. 
She  turned  as  if  to  fly,  but  Daniel  put  his  arm 
round  her  waist  and  detained  her. 

"  Elspie,  dearest  Elspie,  it  must  be  settled  now — 
or ."    He  would  not — could  not — say  "  never." 

"  0  Daniel,  don't ! "  entreated  Elspie. 

But  Daniel  did. 

"Bray-vo!"  exclaimed  the  bo's'n  with  enthu- 
siasm, for  he  was  a  sympathetic  man,  though  un- 
principled in  the  matter  of  eavesdropping. 

That  cut  it  short.  They  retired  precipitately 
from  the  weather  gangway  abaft  the  main  shrouds, 
and  sought  refuge  in  a  sequestered  nook  near  the 
companion-hatch,  which  was,  in  name  as  well  as 
in  every  other  way,  much  more  suited  to  their 
circumstances.  The  steersman  had  his  eye  on 
them  there,  but  they  fortunately  did  not  know  it. 

Apologising  for  this  reminiscence,  we  return  to 
the  thread  of  our  story. 

Mrs.  Davidson  was  seated  at  breakfast  one 
morning,  with  all  her  family  around  her  in 
Prairie  Cottage.  She  had  named  it  thus  because, 
from  one  of  the  windows,  there  was  to  be  had  a 
peep  of  the  prairies  lying  beyond  the  bushes  by 
which  it  was  surrounded. 


ff 

i 
# 

t 

3 

t 

i 

\ 

•; 


62 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


Old  M'Kay  had  named  his  cottage  Ben  Nevis, 
either  because  the  country  around  was  as  flat  as  a 
pancake,  or  out  of  sheer  contradictiousness. 

"  Have  they  found  out  anything  more  about  the 
murder  of  that  poor  fellow  Perrin  ? "  asked  Mrs. 
Davidson.  "  Moi  tV  .  four  months  have  passed 
since  it  happened.' 

"  Nothing  more,  moiner,'  'd  Dan,  who  now  filled 
his  father's  chair.  "  As  you  say,  four  months  have 
passed,  and  one  would  think  that  was  time  enough 
to  discover  the  murderer,  but,  you  see,  it  is  nobody's 
business  in  particular,  and  we  've  no  regular  police, 
and  everybody  is  far  too  busy  just  now  to  think  about 
it.  In  fact,  not  many  people  in  these  parts  care 
much  about  a  murder,  T  fear." 

"  Ah !  if  they  went  to  see  Perrin's  old  mother," 
said  Jessie,  "  it  would  oblige  them  to  care  a  great 
deal,  for  he  was  her  only  son." 

"  Ay,  her  only  child ! "  added  Mrs.  Davidson. 

While  she  was  yet  speaking,  it  so  happened  that 
Duncan  M'Kay  junior  himself  entered  the  room, 
with  that  over-done  free-and-easiness  which  some- 
times characterises  a  man  who  is  ill  at  ease. 

"  Whose  only  child  are  you  speaking  about,  Mrs. 
Davidson  ? "  he  asked  carelessly. 

"Mrs.  Perrin's,"  she  replied,  with  a  familiar 
nod  to  the  visitor,  who  often  dropped  in  on  them 
casually  in  this  way. 

The  reply  was  so  unexpected  and  sudden,  that 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLA.INS. 


63 


M'Kay  could  not  avoid  a  slight  start  and  a  peculiar 
expression,  in  spite  of  his  usual  self-command.  He 
glanced  quickly  at  Dan  and  Peter,  but  they  were 
busy  with  their  food,  and  had  apparently  not  noticed 
the  guilty  signs. 

"Ah!  poor  thing,"  returned  the  youth,  in  his 
cynical  and  somewhat  nasal  tone,  '*  it  iss  hard  on  her. 
By  the  way,  Dan,  hev  ye  heard  that  the  wolves 
hev  killed  two  or  three  of  M'Dermid's  horses  tha^ 
had  strayed  out  on  the  plains,  and  Elspie's  m n 
Vixen  iss  out  too.  Some  of  us  will  be  going  to  soe': 
for  her.  The  day  bein'  warm  an'  the  snow  sof'  w^ 
hev  a  good  chance  of  killin'  some  o'  the  wolves.  I 
thought  Peter  might  like  to  go  too." 

"  So  Peter  does,"  said  the  youth,  rising  and  brush- 
ing the  crumbs  off  his  knees :  "  there's  nothing  I 
like  better  than  to  hunt  down  these  sneaking,  mur- 
derous brutes  that  are  so  ready  to  spring  suddenly 
imawares  on  friend  or  foe." 

Again  Duncan  M'Kay  cast  a  quick  inquiring 
glance  at  Peter,  but  the  lad  was  evidently  innocent 
of  any  double  meaning.  It  was  only  a  movement, 
within  the  manslayer,  of  that  conscience  which 
"  makes  cowards  of  us  all." 

"  Louise ! "  shouted  Dan,  as  he  also  rose  from  the 
table. 

"  Oui,  monsieur  "  came,  in  polite  deferential  tones, 
from  the  culinary  department,  and  the  little  half- 
breed  maiden  appeared  at  the  door. 


> 

0 

I 

t 

l 


■I'. 


64 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS:   A  TALE 


"  Did  you  mend  that  shot-bag  last  night?" 

"  Oui,  monsieur." 

"  Fetch  it  here,  then,  please ;  and,  Jessie,  stir  your 
stumps  like  a  good  girl,  and  get  some  food  ready  to 
take  with  us." 

"  Will  you  tell  me  the  precise  way  in  which  good 
girls  stir  their  stumps  1 "  asked  Jessie ;  "  for  I  'm 
not  quite  sure." 

Dan  answered  with  a  laugh,  and  went  out  to 
saddle  his  horse,  followed  by  his  brother  and  Duncan 
M'Kay. 

"  Kescuing  seems  to  be  the  order  of  the  day  this 
year,"  remarked  Peter,  as  they  walked  towards  the 
stable  behind  the  cottage.  "  We  've  had  a  good  deal 
of  rescuing  men  in  the  winter,  and  now  we  are  goin' 
to  rescue  horses." 

"  Eescuing  is  the  grandest  work  that  a  fellow  can 
undertake,"  said  Dan,  "  whether  it  be  the  body  from 
death  or  the  soul  from  sin." 

"What  you  say  iss  true — whatever,"  remarked 
M'Kay,  whose  speech,  although  not  so  broad  as  that 
of  his  father,  was  tinged  with  similar  characteristics. 
"  It  will  be  better  to  rescue  than  to  kill." 

This  was  so  obvious  a  truism  that  his  companions 
laughed,  but  Duncan  had  uttered  it  almost  as  a 
soliloquy,  for  he  was  thinking  at  the  moment  of 
poor  Perrin,  whose  body  had  long  since  been  brought 
to  the  Settlement  and  buried.  Indeed  thoughts  of 
the  murdered  man  were  seldom  out  of  his  mind. 


C( 

r( 

pi 
t( 
ail 
id 

li 


OF  TIIK  KED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


65 


Meanwhile,  far  out  on  the  lonesome  and  still  snow- 
covered  prairie  the  steed  which  they  were  going  to 
rescue  stood  on  a  low  mound  or  undulation  of  the 
plain  surrounded  by  wolves.  It  was  a  pitiful  sight 
to  see  the  noble  mare,  almost  worn  out  with  watching 
and  defending  herself,  while  the  pack  of  those  sneak- 
ing hounds  of  the  wilderness  sat  or  stood  around  her 
licking  their  chops  and  patiently  biding  their  time. 

They  formed  a  lean,  gaunt,  savage-looking  crew, 
as  they  sat  there,  calculating,  apparently,  how  long 
their  victim's  strength  would  hold  out,  and  when  it 
would  be  safe  to  make  a  united  and  cowardly  rush. 

One  wolf,  more  gaunt  and  rugged  and  grey  than 
the  others,  with  black  lips  and  red  tongue  and  blood- 
shot eyes,  moved  about  the  circle  uneasily  as  if 
trying  to  screw  up  its  craven  spirit  to  the  sticking 
point.  The  others  evidently  regarded  this  one  as 
their  leader,  for  they  hung  back  from  him  a  little, 
and  kept  a  watchful  eye  on  his  movements.  So  did 
Vixen,  the  mare.  She  kept  her  tail  always  turned 
towards  him,  looking  savagely  back  at  him  with  her 
great  eyes  glittering,  her  ears  laid  flat,  and  her  heels 
ready. 

Poor  Vixen !  Elspie  had  given  her  the  name  when 
in  a  facetious  frame  of  mind,  as  being  descriptive 
of  the  very  opposite  of  her  character,  for  she  was 
gentle  as  a  lamb,  tender  in  the  mouth,  playful  in  her 
moods,  and  sensitive  to  a  degree  both  in  body  and 
spirit.     No  curb  was  ever  needed  to  restrain  Vixen, 


> 

t 

i 
} 

I 

3 

I 

5 

\ 

H 


66 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNEllS  :   A  TALE 


nor  spur  to  urge  her  on.     A  chirp  sent  an  electric 


thrill 


ign 


Vic! 


her  handsome  frame ;  a  "  Qui 
sufficed  to  calm  her  to  absolute  docility.  Any 
child  could  have  reined  her  in,  and  she  went  with 
springy  elasticity  as  though  her  limbs  were  made  of 
vivified  steel  and  indiarubber.  But  she  was  getting 
old,  and  somehow  the  wolves  seemed  to  be  aware 
of  that  melancholy  fact.  They  would  not  have 
troubled  her  in  the  heyday  of  her  youth  ! 

An  impatient  howl  from  one  of  the  pack  seemed 
to  insinuate  that  the  grey  old  leader  was  a  coward. 
So  he  was,  but  evidently  he  did  not  relish  being  told 
so,  for  he  uncovered  his  glittering  fangs  and  made 
a  sudden  dash  at  the  mare. 

With  a  whisk  of  the  tail  worthy  of  her  best  days, 
she  lashed  out  behind  and  planted  both  her  pretty 
little  feet  on  the  ribs  of  the  grey  chief  with  such 
a  portentous  whack  that  he  succumbed  at  once. 
With  a  gasp,  and  a  long-drawn  wail,  he  sank  dead 
upon  the  snow;  whereupon  his  amiable  friends — 
whsn  quite  sure  of  his  demise — tore  him  limb  from 
limb  and  devoured  him. 

This  was  a  fortunate  respite  for  Vixen,  most 
of  whose  remaining  strength  and  pluck  had  been 
thrown  into  that  magni  icent  fling.  Old  Duncan, 
had  he  seen  it,  would  probably  have  styled  it  a 
"  goot  Highland  fling." 

But  the  respite  was  not  of  long  duration.  Their 
leader  formed  but  a  mouthful  to  each  of  the  pack. 


W 


ag{ 


dej 
A 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


G7 


When  (loue,  tliey  returned  to  encircle  their  victim 
again,  lick  their  chops,  and  wait. 

Evening  was  drawing  on,  and  a  sort  of  grey 
desolation  seemed  to  be  creeping  over  the  plains. 
A  decided  thaw  had  been  operating  all  tliat  day, 
rendering  the  snow  30ft.  If  the  mare  had  only 
known  the  advantage  thus  given  to  her,  a  successful 
effort  at  escape  might  have  been  made.  When  snow 
on  the  prairie  is  frozen  with  a  hard  crust  on  the 
surface,  the  light  wolf  can  run  easily  on  the  top  of 
it,  while  the  heavy  horse  breaks  through  at  every 
stride  and  is  soon  knocked  up.  The  case  is  reversed 
when  a  thaw  softens  the  surface,  for  then  the  short- 
legged  wolf  flounders  helplessly  in  its  depths,  while 
the  long-limbed  and  powerful  horse  can  gallop 
through  it  with  comparative  ease.  But  the  good 
mare,  intelligent  though  she  was,  did  not  consider 
this  fact,  and  the  wolves,  you  may  be  sure,  did  not 
enlighten  her.  Besides,  by  that  time  she  was  well- 
nigh  worn  out,  and  could  not  have  made  a  vigorous 
run  for  life  even  over  a  good  course. 

Gradually,  a  worthy  lieutenant  of  the  old  grey 
chief  began  to  show  symptoms  of  impatience,  and 
the  hungry  circle  closed  in.  Vixen  looked  up  and 
whinnied  slightly.  It  seemed  a  pitiful  appeal  for 
help  from  the  human  friends  who  had  cared  for  her 
so  well  and  so  long.  Perchance  it  was  the  last  wail 
of  despair — a  final  farewell  to  the  green  fields  and 
the  flowering  plains  of  memory. 


> 


i 

« 

: 
3 

t 

! 

it 


68 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


Whatever  it  was,  an  answer  came  in  the  form  of 
several  dark  specks  on  the  horizon.  Vixen  saw  them, 
and  whinnied  again  in  a  decidedly  different  tone. 
The  wolves  also  saw  them,  and  moved  about  uneasily. 

On  came  the  black  specks,  increasing  in  size  as 
they  drew  near.  The  wolves  looked  at  each  other 
inquiringly,  moved  still  more  uneasily,  appeared  to 
hold  a  consultation,  and  finally  drew  off  to  a  neigh- 
bouring knoll,  as  if  to  await  the  result  of  this  un- 
looked-for interruption,  and  return  to  business  when 
it  was  past. 

The  intelligence  of  the  lower  animals  is  great — 
in  some  cases  very  great — but  it  does  not  amount  to 
reason.  If  it  did,  those  wolves  would  not  have  sat 
there,  in  the  pride  of  physical  strength  and  personal 
freedom,  calmly  awaiting  their  doom,  while  Daniel 
and  Peter  Davidson,  Duncan  M'Kay  junior,  Okema- 
tan  the  Cree  Indian,  another  Indian  named  Katee- 
goose,  and  Jacques  Bourassin,  a  half-breed,  came 
thundering  down  towards  them  like  infuriated  cen- 
taurs. 

At  last  they  seemed  to  realise  the  truth  that 
"  discretion  is  the  better  part  of  valour,"  and  began 
to  retire  from  the  scene— slowly  at  first. 

Vixen,  recognising  friends,  trotted  off  with  re- 
viving strength,  and  a  high  head  and  tail  to  meet 
them.  Seeing  this,  Dan,  who  led  the  party,  drew 
rein  so  as  to  allow  the  steeds  to  recover  breath 
before  the  final  burst. 


u 
h 

oi 
ti 


OP  THE  RED  KlVEll  PLAINS. 


69 


that 


i 


I 


The  wolves,  with  that  presumption  which  is 
usually  found  to  be  the  handmaid  of  ignorance, 
halted,  and  sat  down  again  to  watch  the  progress 
of  events.  Fatal  self-confidence  !  They  little  knew 
the  deep  duplicity  of  man ! 

"  0  you  stupid  brutes  ! "  murmured  Dan  to  him- 
self, advancing  in  a  somewhat  sidling  manner  as 
if  he  meant  to  pass  them.  They  evidently  believed 
this  to  be  his  intention  until  they  saw  the  six 
horsemen  turn  their  Siieeds  straight  in  tlieir  direc- 
tion and  charge  them  at  full  gallop  with  a  yell 
that  drove  rapid  conviction  to  their  brains. 

Then,  with  tails  between  legs  and  ears  flat  they 
fled.  But  it  was  too  late.  The  horses  scattered 
the  soft  snow  with  comparative  ease.  The  wolves 
plunged  through  it  with  diificulty.  First  to  over- 
take them  was  Peter  Davidson.  He  put  the  muzzle 
of  his  gun  to  the  side  of  the  grey  lieutenant,  and 
shot  him  through  the  heart.  His  brother  Dan, 
selecting  another  of  the  pack,  pointed  at  the  ear 
and  blew  out  its  brains.  Okcmatan,  partial  to  the 
weapons  of  his  forefathers,  sent  an  arrow  through 
the  ribs  of  a  third,  while  Katcegoose  transfixed  a 
fourth.  Duncan  M'Kay  shot  a  fifth,  and  Bourassin 
knocked  over  a  sixth  at  comparatively  long  range, 
his  horse  being  too  poor  or  too  tired  to  come  fairly 
up  with  the  pack. 

There  was  no  wasting  of  powder,  shot,  or  shaft 
in  this  affair.     Each  man  was  an  expert  with  his 


> 
f 

0 

t 

iil 

s 


70 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


weapon,  and  cool  as  the  proverbial  cucumber, 
though  considerably  excited.  Loading  as  they  ran, 
they  fired  and  shot  again,  stretching  six  more  of 
the  enemy  on  the  plain.  Then  they  pulled  up  and 
suffered  the  rest  to  escape,  being  afraid  to  leave 
Vixen  out  of  sight  behind  them,  for  that  happy 
creature,  following  and  enjoying  the  sport  as  long 
as  she  could,  found  that  her  powers  were  too  much 
exhausted  to  permit  of  her  keeping  up  with  the 
chase. 

"  She 's  not  fit  to  travel  another  mile,"  said  Dan, 
stroking  her  glossy  neck  and  allowing  her  to  rub 
her  nose  affectionately  on  his  shoulder. 

"  That  iss  true,  whatever,"  assented  Duncan.  "  I 
think  we  could  not  do  better  than  camp  on  the 
nearest  bluff." 

This  was  agreed  to  by  all.  Provision  for  one 
meal,  it  will  be  remembered,  had  been  prepared  at 
Prairie  Cottage  in  the  morning.  A  hunter's  meal, 
when  properly  divided,  makes  two  or  three  average 
meals,  and  a  hunter's  powers  of  endurance  are  pro- 
verbial. Each  man  had  his  blanket  strapped  to  his 
saddle.  Branches  of  various  kinds  of  trees  make  a 
good  mattress,  and  the  air  of  the  prairie  is  well 
known  to  conduce  to  appetite  and  slumber. 

With  such  environment  it  is  scarcely  necessary 
to  add  that  the  hunters  enjoyed  themselves,  and 
that  Vixen  had  a  restful  night,  probably  without 
even  a  dream  about  hungry  wolves. 


OF  Till::  llED  lilVEli  I'LAIiNS. 


71 


number, 
iey  ran, 
nore  of 
up  and 
>  leave 

happy 
LS  long 

much 
^h  the 

i  Dan, 
;o  rub 

"I 

1  the 

p  one 

'ed  at 
meal, 
erage 
pro- 
0  his 
ike  a 
well 

sarj' 
and 
10  ut 


CHAPTER    VIII. 


STIRRING  EVENTS  DESCRIBED. 


The  proverbial  slip  'twixt  the  cup  and  the  lip, 
and  the  well-known  uncertainty  of  all  human  affairs, 
received  striking  illustration  in  the  person  and 
prospects  of  our  hero,  Daniel  Davidson,  not  long 
after  the  events  narrated  in  the  last  chapter. 

Up  to  this  period  the  unfortunate  colonists  of  the 
Eed  Eiver  Settlement  had  led  a  life  chiefly  of  dis- 
appointment and  disaster.  Although  everything  had 
been  done  for  them  by  tlieir  patron  the  Earl  of 
Selkirk  with  the  best  intentions,  the  carrying  out 
of  his  plans  had  been  frustrated  by  the  feuds  of  the 
rival  fur  companies,  the  misunderstandings  and  the 
jealousies  of  Indians  and  half-breeds,  and,  to  some 
extent,  by  the  severity  of  the  climate.  An  open 
rupture  took  place  between  them  and  the  North- 
westers. Encounters  between  the  contending  parties 
occurred,  in  which  several  on  both  sides  were  killed, 
and  at  last  the  North-Westers,  attacking  the  settlers 
in  force,  drove  them  from  the  colony  and  burnt  their 
dwellincrs  and  homesteads. 


I 

3 

t 

\ 


ii 


Iti ; 


72 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


Eetreating  to  the  north  end  of  Lake  Winnipeg, 
the  colonists  found  refuge  at  Jack  River — three 
hundred  miles  distant.  From  this  place  they  were 
ultimately  recalled  by  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company, 
which  took  them  under  its  protection.  Eeturning 
to  Eed  Eiver,  the  unfortunate  but  persevering  people 
proceeded  to  resume  their  farming  operations.  But 
the  prospect  before  them  was  gloomy  enough.  The 
lawless  proceedings  of  the  rival  companies  had 
convulsed  the  whole  Indian  country,  and  the  evil 
seemed  to  culminate  in  the  Eed  Eiver  Colony,  to 
which  retired  servants  of  the  fur-traders,  voyageurs, 
adventurers,  and  idlers  gravitated  as  to  a  centre; 
so  that  there  was  little  prospect  of  their  being 
allowed  to  prosecute  their  agricultural  operations 
in  peace. 

The  dissensions  at  last  became  so  '^reat  that 
a  large  proportion  of  the  new  sett-ers,  including 
many  of  the  Scotch  Highlanders,  dispersed  to  seek 
a  precarious  livelihood  among  the  Indians,  on  the 
prairies  bordering  the  waters  of  the  Missouri,  or  to 
sustain  themselves  and  their  families  by  fishing  in 
the  distant  lakes,  and  hunting  on  their  shores. 

On  the  advent  of  spring,  however,  most  of  these 
returned  to  the  colony,  with  renewed  hope  in  agri- 
culture, au'l  pat  U.  work — every  man,  woman,  and 
child — to  ^ct  "^ovae  seed  into  the  ground. 

But  at-  th\\^  point  t  n  event  occurred  which  threw 
the  col(. '*y    iricu  great  consternation,  and  induced 


was 


OF  THE  HED  KIVEll  PLAINS. 


73 


vigorous  action  on  the  part  of  Lord  Selkirk,  which 
was  the  first  step  towards  more  peaceful  times. 

The  North- West  pa-^-ty,  consisting  chiefly  of  half- 
breeds,  had  augmented  to  upwards  of  three  hundred 
warriors.  It  would  be  more  correct,  perhaps,  to 
style  them  banditti ;  for  they  had  penetrated  through 
every  part  of  Eupert's  Land,  set  law  at  defiance, 
pillaged  and  destroyed  many  of  the  establishments 
of  their  rivals,  and  kept  the  whole  country  in  a  stat^^ 
of  ferment  and  alarm. 

One  band  of  these  men,  numbering  between  sixty 
and  seventy,  advanced  upon  Eed  River  Colony.  They 
were  a  motley  crew,  all  mounted  on  horseback  and 
armed  with  guns,  spears,  tomahawks,  bows,  and 
scalping-knives,  besides  which  they  were  painted 
and  plumed  ci  la  sauvage,  and  were  in  the  habit 
when  rushing  to  battle,  of  yelling  like  the  Red-men 
whose  blood  mingled  with  that  of  the  White-man 
in  their  veins. 

What  was  the  precise  intention  of  these  men  at 
this  time  it  is  difficult  to  say,  but  it  was  not  difficult 
to  see  that  peace  was  not  their  object. 

Governor  Semple,  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  CompaL/, 
a  mild,  just,  and  much  respected  man,  was  in  charge 
of  the  colony  at  the  time. 

Daniel  Davidson  was  engaged  in  a  very  important 
conversation  with  old  Duncan  M'Kay  at  the  time  the 
formidable  troop  of  North-Westers  swept  through  the 
settlements.     The  old  man  was  seated  in  the  hall, 


> 

9 

9 

f 

3 

I-' 


=2 


i 


74 


THE  BUFFALO  IIUNNEKS  :   A  TALE 


parlour,  drawing-room — or  whatever  you  choose  to 
call  it — of  Ben  Nevis  House.  It  was  an  uncarpeted, 
unpainted,  unadorned  room  with  pine  plank  flooring, 
plank  walls,  a  plank  ceiling,  a  plank  table,  and  a  set 
of  plank  chairs.  Ornament  was  dispensed  with  in  the 
hall  of  Ben  Nevis  House ;  for  although  Elspie  would 
fain  have  clothed  it  with  a  little  feminine  grace,  its 
proprietor  would  not  hear  of  such  proposals. 

"Stick  as  many  gimcracks  as  you  like  about 
your  own  room,  Elspie,"  he  had  remarked  when  the 
first  attempt  was  made,  "  but  leave  me  my  hall  in 
peace.     It  iss  quite  pleased  with  it  I  am  as  it  iss." 

Opposite  tho  door  of  the  hall  there  was  a  large 
open  fireplace  without  a  grate.  Doors  all  round 
the  walls  of  the  hall  opened  into  the  other  rooms  of 
the  establishment.  Above  what  would  have  been 
the  mantelpiece,  had  one  existed,  there  wa3  a  row  of 
tobacco  pipes.  Old  Duncan  was  a  great  smoker. 
Indeed  he  wou\l  have  been  almost  unrecognisable 
without  his  pipe.  He  was  smoking  when  Daniel 
Davidson  visited  him,  in  order  to  hold  the  very 
important  conversation  to  which  we  have  referred. 

"It  iss  as  you  say,  Taniel,"  remarked  the  old 
man,  frowning  at  his  pipe,  which  was  not  drawing 
properly.  "  Marrit  life  iss  more  to  be  desired  than 
single  blessedness,  whatever,  an*  it  iss  my  opeenion 
that  you  will  do  more  work  with  Elspie  helpin'  you, 
than  by  yourself.  When  iss  it  you  will  be  wantin' 
to  call  me  your  father  ? " 


OF  THE  EED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


75 


>> 


The  old  iiian  asked  the  question  with  a  somewhat 
humorous  smile,  for  he  was,  to  say  truth,  not  a 
little  proud  of  the  staid,  sensible,  and  strong  young 
fellow  who  aspired  to  his  daugiiter's  hand — besides, 
the  pipe  was  drawing  well  by  that  time. 

"As  soon  as  you  like,"  answered  Dan, " or, rather, 
as  soon  as  Elspie  likes.  You  see,  things  are  begin- 
ning to  look  a  little  more  hopeful  now.  People  who 
seem  to  know  best — or  seem  to  think  they  do — 
tell  us  that  the  Nor'-Westers  are  beginning  to  see 
that  a  colony  here  won't  interfere  in  any  way 
with  their  business ;  a  good  deal  of  seed  has  been 
sown,  and,  if  all  goes  well,  we  may  look  for  a 
better  year  than  we  have  yet  had ;  therefore  I  don't 
see  why  we  should  wait  any  longer." 

"  Your  observations  are  ferry  true.  There  iss  just 
wan  little  word  you  mention  that  requires  considera- 
tion," returned  the  old  man  with  a  brow  wrinkled 
so  as  to  suggest  profound  sagacity  of  thought.  "  You 
said  *if  all  goes  well.'  But  supposin',  for  the 
sake  of  argument,  that  all  does  not  go  well — 
what  than?" 

"Why,  then,"  answered  the  young  man  with  a 
laugh,  "  we  shall  be  no  worse  off  than  other  people, 
who  have  to  make  the  best  of  things  as  they  find 
them." 

"No  doubt — no  doubt — that  iss  the  true  an* 
pheelosophical  way  to  look  at  the  matter.  But 
don't  you  think,  Taniel,  that  it  would  be  as  well  to 


> 

t 

i 

) 
I 

3 
y 

'it 

n 

I 

i 


76 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


putt  off  till  our  munister  arrives  ?  I  would  not  be 
haviu'  my  daughter  marrit  without  a  munister  if  I 
can  help  it.  An'  you  know  his  Lordship  has  pro- 
mised more  than  wance  to  send  us  wan.  He  will 
not  be  long  o'  coming  now." 

"Yes,  a  minister  has  been  promised  again  an' 
again,"  returned  Dan,  somewhat  bitterly,  "  an'  I 
suppose  he  will  go  on  promising  again  and  over 
again,  but  I  have  not  much  faith  in  these  promises. 
The  Earl  has  too  many  agents  who  are  not  as  true 
as  himself.  I  would  rather  n^.t  delay  my  marriage 
on  that  account.  "What  ails  you  at  Mr.  Suther- 
land ? " 

"Well,  Taniel,  I  hev  nothing  to  say  against 
Muster  Sutherland.  He  iss  a  ferry  goot  man — I 
will  not  be  denyin'  that,  but — he  iss  not  an 
ordaindd  munis ;^r." 

"  What  of  that  ? "  retorted  Dan.  "  He  is  an  or- 
dained elder  of  the  Church  of  Scotland,  and  that 
is  much  the  same  thing.  And  he  is  a  good. 
Christian  man,  respected  by  every  one  in  the  Settle- 
ment." 

"  Well,  well,  Taniel ;  hev  it  your  own  way," 
returned  old  Duncan  with  a  resigned  look.  "Of 
course,  it  would  have  been  pleesanter  if  he  had  been 
a  regular  munister,  what<3ver ;  but,  as  you  say,  my 
boy,  '  what  of  that  ? '  So,  as  things  look  a  little 
more  peaceable  than  they  wass — though  not  ferry 
much — I  will  be " 


OF  THE  RED  RlVEll  PLAINS. 


77 


pro- 
will 


-I 

an 


» 


He  was  interrupted  afc  tins  point  by  the  sudden 
entrance  of  Jacques  Bourassin  with  the  astounding 
intelligence  that  a  band  of  North-Westers  had  gone 
up  the  Settlement  to  attack  Fort  Garry." 

"  Hoot !  nonsense,  man ! "  exclaimed  old  Mackay, 
starting  up  and  flinging  his  pipe  away  in  the  excite- 
ment of  the  moment. 

"  No — not  nonesense  ! "  said  Bourassin  in  broken 
English  ;  "  it  be  true.  T  knows  it.  I  come  to  say 
that  we  go  to  the  fort  to  help  them." 

"  Eight,  boy,  right ! "  exclaimed  the  old  man, 
hastily  belting  on  his  capote.  "  Fergus  !  Tuncan  ! 
— Elspie !  where  are  these  boys  ? " 

"  In  the  stable,  father.     I  saw  them  just " 

"  Let  them  saddle  all  the  nags — quick,"  cried  the 
old  man.     "  Taniel,  you  better " 

He  stopped ;  for  Daniel  had  already  run  out  to 
saddle  and  mount  his  own  horse. 

In  a  few  minutes  a  cavalcade  of  a  dozen  powerful 
young  fellows,  headed  by  old  Duncan  M'Kay,  and 
armed  with  guns,  were  galloping  at  full  speed  in 
the  direction  of  Fort  Garry. 

But  before  this  cavalcade  had  set  out,  the  ren- 
contre at  the  fort  had  already  taken  place,  and  been 
fatally  decided. 

The  approach  of  the  enemy  had  been  announced 
to  those  nearest  the  scene  of  action  by  the  women 
and  children  of  that  part  of  the  Settlement,  who 
were  seen  running  about  in  frantic  alarm  trying  to 


> 


) 

0 

n 

3 

t 

5 


i 
•I 


78 


THE  BUFFALO  KUNNEllS  :   A  TALE 


hide  themselves,  and  some  of  them  seeking  refuge 
in  the  fort. 

Among  these  were  two  brothers  named  Sinclair. 
One  of  them,  Archie  by  name,  was  a  stout  healthy 
fellow  of  twelve  or  thereabouts,  the  other  was  a 
thin  delicate  boy  of  ten,  whose  illness,  whatever  it 
was,  had  reduced  him  to  skin  and  bone,  taken  all 
the  colour  out  of  his  cheeks,  and  rendered  him  quite 
unable  to  run  or  play  like  other  boys.  They  had 
recently  become  orphans,  their  father  and  mother, 
who  were  among  the  most  recent  arrivals,  having 
died  suddenly  within  a  few  weeks  of  each  other. 
When  the  alarm  of  the  threatened  attack  was  given, 
the  brothers  were  amusing  themselves  on  the  sunny 
side  of  the  cottage  which  had  been  for  only  one 
year  their  happy  home. 

In  a  moment  Archie  took  his  brother  on  his  back 
and  scampered  away  with  him  to  a  place  near  the 
river,  and  hid  him  in  a  hollow  under  the  bank, 
where  they  had  been  wont  to  play  at  grizzly  bears 
and  hunters. 

Meanwhile  Governor  SemplC;  with  several  gentle- 
men and  attendants,  walked  out  to  meet  the  party 
of  half-breeds  and  Indians,  n^t  to  offer  battle,  but 
for  the  purpose  of  parlance  and  conciliation.  It  is 
admitted,  however,  that  Governor  Semple  committed 
a  grave  error  of  judgment  in  allowing  his  small 
party  to  carry  arms.  They  numbered  only  twenty- 
eight  in  all,  and,  being  untrained,  could  have  had  no 


0^ 

ai 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


79 


chance  in  an  open  fight  with  such  opponents.  If 
the  Governor  had  gone  out  unarmed  with  only  one 
or  two  attendants,  he  would,  it  was  thought,  have 
appealed  irresistibly  to  the  honour  of  the  party. 

As  it  was,  when  the  Hudson's  Bay  party  drew 
near  they  thought  the  look  of  their  opponents  so 
suspicious  that  the  Governor  halted  his  men,  and 
they  stood  in  a  group  as  if  in  consultation.  Seeing 
this,  the  half-breeds  divided  themselves  into  two 
bodies,  and  commenced  firing  from  behind  some 
willows — at  first  a  shot  or  two,  and  then  a  merciless 
volley.  No  fewer  than  twenty-one  of  the  twenty- 
eight  fell  to  rise  no  more,  among  whom  were  the 
Governor  himself ;  Mr.  Wilkinson,  his  secretary  ; 
Captain  Kogers,  a  mineralogist ;  Mr.  White,  the 
surgeon ;  Mr.  Holt,  of  the  Swedish  navy,  and  Mr. 
M'Lean,  a  principal  settler. 

Indeed  the  whole  party  would  have  probably 
been  killed  and  the  settlers  massacred  at  that  time, 
but  for  the  courageous  interposition  of  the  chief  oi 
the  half-breeds,  Cuthbert  Grant,  who,  at  the  risk  of 
his  life,  stood  between  the  settlers  and  their  foes, 
only  one  of  which  last  was  killed. 

When  old  M'Kay  and  his  party  drew  near  to  the 
scene,  the  massacre  was  completed,  and  most  of  his 
little  band — which  had  been  slightly  augmented  on 
the  way  up — turned  right  about,  and  rode  away  to 
defend  their  respective  homes. 

But  the  warrior  spirit  of  old  M'Kay  and  his  sons 


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THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


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had  been  roused.  They  refused  to  turn  tail,  and,  in 
company  with  Dan  and  Peter  Davidson,  made  a 
furious  charge  into  a  detached  party  of  the  half- 
breeds  which  they  chanced  to  encounter.  They 
scattered  them  like  sheep,  though  they  did  not 
succeed  in  killing  any.  Then  they  also  wheeled 
round  and  galloped  back  to  their  respective  homes. 

"Come,  Elspie,  tear,"  said  the  old  man  as  he 
dismounted,  "putt  what  ye  value  most  in  your 
pocket  an*  come  away.  The  duvles  are  down  on 
us,  and  we  are  not  able  to  hold  out  in  Ben  Nevis. 
The  settlers  must  choin  altogetlier,  an'  do  the  best 
we  can  to  defend  ourselves." 

While  he  was  speaking,  the  Highlander  was  busy 
stuffing  some  of  the  smaller  of  his  household  goods 
into  his  pockets — amongst  them  a  large  quantity  of 
tobacco. 

Meanwhile  Fergus  hastened  to  the  stable  to 
saddle  Vixen  for  Elspie,  while  the  poor  girl  ran  to 
her  room  and  secured  some  small  objects  which  she 
valued — among  them  a  miniature  portrait  of  her 
mother,  and  a  Bible  which  the  good  lady  had  given 
to  her  a  short  time  before  her  death.  There  was 
no  money,  and  no  valuable  documents  had  to  be 
looked  after,  so  that  preparations  for  flight  were 
soon  completed. 

Now  there  was  a  member  of  old  Duncan  McKay's 
household  who  has  not  yet  been  introduced  to  the 
reader,  but  whose  character  and  influence  in  the 


OF  THE  llED  mVEli  PLAINS. 


81 


household  were  such  as  to  demand  special  notice. 
This  member  was  an  old  woman  named  Peg.  Pro- 
bably this  was  an  abbreviation  of  Peggy,  but  we 
cannot  tell.  Neither  can  we  say  what  her  surname 
was,  for  we  never  heard  it,  and  no  one  spoke  of 
the  old  creature  by  any  other  name  than  that  of 
"  Old  Peg." 

Although  Old  Peg  was  by  no  means  feeble — 
indeed,  judged  by  her  capacities,  she  might  have 
been  pronounced  middle-aged,  for  she  could  walk 
about  the  house  all  day,  actively  engaged  in  miscel- 
laneous self-imposed  duties,  and  could  also  eat  like 
a  man  and  sleep  like  a  dormouse — she  was,  never- 
theless, withered,  and  wrinkled,  and  grey,  and 
small.  Her  exact  age  nobody  knew — and,  for  the 
matter  of  that,  nobody  seemed  to  care. 

Extreme  amiability  and  self-obliteration  were  the 
chief  characteristics  of  Old  Peg.  She  was  silent  by 
nature,  and  deaf  as  a  post — whether  by  art  or  nature 
we  know  not ;  probably  both.  Well,  no — on  second 
thoughts,  not  quite  as  deaf  as  a  post,  for  by  means 
of  severe  shouting  she  could  be  made  to  hear. 

Smiles  and  nods,  however,  were  her  chief  means 
of  communication  with  the  outer  world.  When 
these  failed,  a  yell  might  be  tried  with  advantage. 

No  one  of  the  M'Kay  household  ever  thought  of 
giving  Old  Peg  anything  in  the  shape  of  work  to  do, 
for  the  very  good  reason  that,  being  an  extremely 
willing  horse,  she  was  always   working;  and  she 

F 


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THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


J 


It    - 


possessed  a  peculiar  faculty  of  joservatioii,  which 
enabled  her  to  perceive,  long  before  any  one  else, 
what  ought  to  be  done,  and  the  right  time  to  do  it, 
so  that,  when  any  one  bounced  round  with  the 
sudden  intention  of  telling  her  to  do  anything,  Old 
Peg  was  found  to  have  done  it  already,  or  to  be  in 
the  act  of  doing  it.  It  is  almost  superfluous  to  say 
that  she  patched  and  mended  the  household  gar- 
ments, washed  the  most  of  things  washable,  sewed 
the  sewable,  darned  the  sock,  and,  generally,  did-up 
the  whole  M'Kay  family.  When  not  engaged  in 
definite  or  specific  work,  she  had  a  chronic  sock- 
knitting  which  helped  to  fill  up  and  round  off  the 
corners  of  her  leisure  hours. 

Old  Peg  had  been  the  nurse,  consecutively,  of 
Fergus,  Elspie,  and  Duncan  junior.  She  was  now 
equivalent  to  their  second  mother,  having  nursed 
their  first  mother  to  the  end  with  faithful  untiring 
affection,  and  received  from  the  dying  woman  a 
solemn  commission  never  to  forsake  Duncan  senior 
or  his  progeny. 

No  sentiment  of  a  religious  nature  ever  escaped 
Old  Peg,  but  it  was  observed  that  she  read  her  Bible 
regularly,  and  was  occasionally  found  asleep  on  her 
knees — greatly  to  the  amusement  of  that  irritable 
old  rascal,  Duncan  senior,  and  to  the  gratification 
of  Elspie,  who  came  to  the  conclusion  that  the  old 
woman  must  have  learned  well  off  by  heart  such 
words  as — "  Whatsoever  thy  hand  findeth  to  do,  do 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


83 


which 
le  else, 
0  do  it, 
th   the 

3g,  Old 
)  be  in 
to  say 
d  gar- 
sewed 
did-up 
?ed  in 
sock- 
)ff  the 

py>  of 

3  now 
lursed 
tiring 
lan  a 
senior 

3aped 
Bible 

her 
table 
ation 

old 
such 
0,  do 


it  with  thy  might."  "  Do  good  to  all  men  as  thy 
hand  findeth  opportunity."  "Be  clothed  with 
humility."  "Trust  in  the  Lord  at  all  times." 
Probably  Elspie  was  right,  for  she  judged  of  people 
in  the  old-fashioned  way,  namely,  "  by  their  fruits." 
Her  judgment  of  the  two  Duncans  on  this  principle, 
by  the  way,  could  not  have  been  very  exalted,  but 
we  cannot  tell.  She  was  much  too  loyal  and  loving 
a  daughter  and  sister  to  give  any  sign  or  opinion. 

At  the  time  of  the  sudden  call  to  flight  just  de- 
scribed, the  M'Kay  family  had  totally  forgotten  Old 
Peg  in  their  hurry.    Elspie  was  the  first  to  miss  her. 

"Old  Peg!"  she  exclaimed — almost  screamed — 
while  Fergus  was  assisting  her  to  mount  Vixen, 
"  where  is  she  ? " 

"  1 11  find  her,"  said  Fergus,  "  and  bring  her  on 
in  the  cart.  You  be  off  after  father.  We  've  no 
time  to  lose." 

"  Be  sure  you  bring  her,  Fergus,"  said  Elspie. 

"  All  right ;  no  fear ! " 

Thus  assured,  Elspie  was  about  to  gallop  away 
after  her  father — who  had  started  in  advance,  to 
overtake  and  stop  the  Prairie  Cottage  family,  so 
that  they  might  travel  in  one  band — when  the 
clatter  of  hoofs  was  heard,  and  next  moment  Dan 
Davidson  galloped  round  the  corner  of  the  house. 

"  I  came  back  for  you,  Elspie,"  he  said,  pulling  up. 
"  Why  did  you  not  come  on  with  your  father  ?  " 

"I  expected  to  overtake  him,  Dan.     You  know 


N 


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84 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


■"d- 


Vixen  is  swift.  Besides,  I  missed  Old  Peg,  and 
delayed  a  few  minutes  on  her  account.  Is  she  with 
your  party  ? " 

"  No — at  least  I  did  not  see  her.  But  she  may 
have  been  in  the  cart  with  Louise.  Shall  I  look  for 
her  while  you  gallop  on  ? " 

"No;  Fergus  has  promised  to  find  and  bring 
her  after  us.     Come,  i  am  ready." 

The  two  galloped  away.  As  they  did  so  young 
Duncan  issued  from  the  stable  behind  the  house, 
leading  out  his  horse.  He  was  in  no  hurry,  having 
a  good  mount.  At  the  same  time  Fergus  came  out 
at  the  back-door  of  the  house  shouting  "  Old  Peg  ! 
Hallo !  old  woman,  where  are  ye  ?  " 

"  Hev  ye  seen  her,  Duncan  ? "  he  asked  impa- 
tiently. 

"  It  iss  seekin'  high  an'  low  I  hev  been,  an'  it  iss 
of  no  use  shoutin',  for  she  hears  nothin'." 

"  I  'm  sure  I  saw  her  in  the  cart  wi'  the  David- 
sons," said  Duncan. 

"  Are  you  sure  ? "  asked  Fergus. 

"  Weel,  I  did  not  pass  quite  close  to  them,  as  I 
ran  up  here  for  my  horse  on  hearin'  the  news," 
replied  Duncan ;  "  but  I  am  pretty  sure  that  I  saw 
her  sittin*  beside  Louise." 

"  Hm !  that  accoonts  for  her  not  being  here," 
said  Fergus,  running  into  the  stable.  "  Hold  on  a 
bit,  Duncan.     I  '11  go  with  ye  in  a  meenit." 

In  the  circumstances  he  was  not  long    about 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


85 


saddling  his  horse.  A  few  minutes  more,  and  the 
brothers  were  galloping  after  their  friends,  who  had 
got  a  considerable  distance  in  advance  of  them  by 
that  time,  and  they  did  not  overtake  them  till  a  part 
of  the  Settlement  was  reached  where  a  strong  muster 
of  the  settlers  was  taking  place,  and  where  it  was 
resolved  to  make  a  stand  and  face  the  foe. 

Here  it  was  discovered,  to  the  consternation  of 
the  M'Kay  family,  that  Old  Peg  was  not  with  the 
Davidson  party,  and  that  therefore  she  must  have 
been  left  behind ! 

"She  must  be  found  and  rescued,"  exclaimed 
Elspie,  on  making  the  discovery. 

"  She  must !  "  echoed  Dan  Davidson :  "  who  will 
go  back  with  me  ?  " 

A  dozen  stout  young  fellows  at  once  rode  to  the 
front,  and  old  M'Kay  offered  to  take  command  of 
them,  but  was  overruled  and  left  behind. 


> 

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86 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


CHAPTER    IX. 


OLD  PEO. 


Meanwhile,  accustomed  to  think  and  act  for 
herself,  Old  Peg,  on  the  first  alarm,  had  made  up 
her  mind  to  do  her  fair  share  of  work  quietly. 

She  did  not  require  to  be  told  that  danger 
threatene*'  he  family  and  that  flight  had  been  re- 
solved 0".  A  shout  from  some  one  that  Nor'-Westers 
were  coming,  coupled  with  the  hasty  preparations, 
might  have  enlightened  a  mind  much  less  intelligent 
than  that  of  the  old  woman.  She  knew  that  she  could 
do  nothing  to  help  where  smart  bodily  exercise  was 
needed,  but,  down  by  the  creek  close  by,  there  was 
a  small  stable  in  which  a  sedate,  lumbering  old  cart- 
horse dwelt.  The  horse,  she  felt  sure,  would  be 
wanted.  She  could  not  harness  it,  but  she  could  put 
a  bridle  on  it  and  lead  it  up  to  the  house. 

This  animal,  which  was  named  Elephant  on  ac- 
count of  its  size,  had  been  totally  forgotten  by  the 
family  in  the  hurry  of  departure. 

Old  Peg  found  the  putting  of  a  bridle  on  the 
huge  creature  more  difficult  work  than  she  had  ex- 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


87 


pected,  and  only  succeeded  at  last  by  dint  of  per- 
severance, standing  on  three  or  four  bundles  of  hay, 
and  much  coaxing — for  the  creature  had  evidently 
taken  it  into  its  head  that  the  old  woman  had  come 
there  to  fondle  it — perhaps  to  feed  it  with  sugar 
after  the  manner  of  Elspie. 

She  managed  the  thing  at  last,  however,  and  led 
the  horse  up  towards  the  house. 

Now,  while  she  had  been  thus  engaged  the  family 
had  left,  and  the  half-breeds — having  combined  their 
forces — had  arrived. 

Ben  Nevis  was  the  first  house  the  scoundrels  came 
to.  Dismounting,  and  finding  the  place  deserted, 
they  helped  themselves  to  whatever  was  attrac- 
tive and  portable — especially  to  a  large  quantity 
of  Canada  twist  tobacco,  which  old  Duncan  had 
found  it  impossible  to  carry  away.  Then  they 
applied  fire  to  the  mansion,  and,  in  a  wonderfully 
short  time  Ben  Nevis  was  reduced  to  a  level  with 
the  plain.  Another  party  treated  Prairie  Cottage  in 
a  similar  manner. 

It  was  when  the  first  volume  of  black  smoke  rose 
into  the  sky  that  Old  Peg  came  to  the  edge  of  the 
bushes  that  fringed  the  creek  and  discovered  that 
Ben  Nevis  had  suddenly  become  volcanic!  She 
instantly  became  fully  aware  of  the  state  of  mat- 
ters, and  rightly  judged  that  the  family  must  have 
escaped,  else  there  would  have  been  some  evidence 
of  resistance. 


4 


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THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


'; 


• 

i!  ;i 


Fortunately  the  old  woman  had  not  yet  passed 
quite  from  the  shelter  of  the  bushes.  She  drew  back 
with  a  degree  of  caution  worthy  of  a  Redskin,  lead- 
ing the  horse  with  her.  When  well  out  of  sight 
she  paused  for  the  purpose  of  meditation.  What 
was  now  to  be  done !  As  we  have  said,  she  pos- 
sessed decision  of  character  in  an  eminent  degree. 
She  never  at  any  time  had  taken  long  to  make  up 
her  mind ;  she  was  not  going  to  begin  now,  though 
the  position  was  probably  the  most  perplexing  that 
she  had  ever  experienced.  Suddenly  she  raised  her 
head  and  laughed. 

In  the  circumstances  it  would  not  have  been 
surprising  had  hysteria  seized  Old  Peg,  but  there 
was  nothing  hysterical  in  her  nature.  Calm,  cool, 
calculating  courage  dominated  her  every  thought 
and  feeling,  but  the  idea  of  what  she  was  driven 
to  in  her  old  age  had  tickled  her  fancy.  Leading 
the  big  cart-horse  close  up  to  a  bank,  she  prepared 
to  mount  him — having  previously  broken  off  a  good 
strong  switch  from  a  neighbouring  bush. 

Never  before  in  her  life  had  Peg  mounted  a  steed 
of  any  kind  whatever.  She  knew  the  lady's  position 
on  horseback  by  sight,  of  course,  but  not  by  prac- 
tice. To  attempt  it  even  with  a  side-saddle  would 
have  been  impossible ;  but  Elephant  was  barebacked. 
Fortunately  he  was  fat  and  broad,  and  without  a 
visible  back-bone.  Old  Peg  at  once  made  up  her 
mind,  and,  climbing  the   bank,  scrambled  on  hie 


OF  THE  RED  mVEll  PLAINS. 


89 


\ 


back  in  gentleman's  position.  It  was  more  com- 
fortable than  she  had  dared  to  hope. 

But  now  an  unexpected  difliculty  met  her. 
Elephant  declined  to  move!  She  pulled  at  his 
bridle,  and  he  turned  sluggishly,  but  he  would 
not  advance.  Peg  administered  a  sounding  whack 
with  the  switch.  She  might  as  well  have  hit  a 
neighbouring  tree.  Elephant's  hide  was  like  that 
of  his  namesake,  and  he  had  no  feelings  to  speak 
of  that  could  be  touched,  or  hurt,  or  worked  upon. 

In  this  dilemna  the  old  woman  had  recoui  3e  to 
a  weapon  with  which  her  broad  bosom  was  at  all 
times  furnished.  She  drew  a  large  pin,  and  drove 
the  point  into  Elephant's  tlank.  The  result  was 
instantaneous.  Up  went  his  hindquarters,  and  Peg 
found  herself  sprawling  on  his  bushy  mane.  She 
held  on  to  that,  however,  and,  gradually  working 
her  way  back,  regained  her  old  position — thanklal 
that  she  had  not  been  thrown  to  the  ground. 

Another  result  was  that  Elephant  condescended 
to  walk.  But  this  was  not  enough.  Escape  at  such 
a  pace  was  impossible.  Old  Peg  prodded  him  again 
— this  time  on  the  shoulder,  for  she  rightly  con- 
jectured that  he  could  not  well  kick  up  with  his 
fore-legs.  But  he  might  rear !  The  thought  caused 
her  to  grasp  the  bushy  mane  with  both  hands  and 
hold  on.  He  did  not  rear,  but  he  trotted,  and  poor 
Old  Peg  came  to  the  conclusion  that  there  were 
disagreeable  novelties  in  life,  even  for  her. 


t 


90 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


When  Elephant  at  length  burst  out  of  the  fringe 
of  wood  and  gained  the  track  that  followed  the 
course  of  the  river,  she  was  immediately  seen  by  the 
plunderers,  who  laughed  at  the  strange  rider  but 
did  not  follow  her,  with  the  exception  of  one  man 
— an  Indian,  painted  and  feathered, — who  started  in 
pursuit,  hoping,  possibly,  for  an  easy  scalp. 

He  soon  came  close  up,  and,  being  armed  with  a 
bow,  sent  an  arrow  in  advance  of  him.  The  shaft 
was  well  aimed.  It  grazed  the  flank  of  Elephant, 
inflicting  a  painful  wound.  This  woke  up  the  old 
horse  surprisingly,  so  that  it  not  only  broke  into  a 
gallop,  but  set  off  at  racing  speed  as  it  used  to  do 
when  young.  The  Indian  was  badly  mounted,  and 
gradually  lost  ground,  whereupon  he  sent  after  the 
fugitives  several  more  arrows  which  all  fell  wide  of 
the  mark. 

The  change  to  Old  Peg  was  as  a  reprieve  from 
death !  The  trot  had  almost  dislocated  her  bones, 
and  shaken  her  up  like  an  addled  egg,  and  the 
change  to  racing  speed  afforded  infinite  relief.  She 
could  scarcely  credit  her  senses,  and  she  felt  a 
tendency  to  laugh  again  as  she  glanced  over  her 
shoulder.  But  that  glance  removed  the  tendency, 
for  it  revealed  the  Indian  warrior,  in  all  his  paint 
and  feathers  and  streaming  scalp-locks,  in  hot 
pursuit,  while  the  whiz  of  another  arrow  close  past 
her  ear  convinced  our  heroine  that  it  was  not  a 
dream. 


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FLIGHT  OF  OLD  PEG.— Page  90. 


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OF  THE  RED  RIVEH  PLAINS. 


91 


The  jolting  to  v/hich  the  poor  old  creature  was 
subjected  had  disturbed  her  costume  not  a  little. 
Her  shawl  came  nearly  off,  and,  holding  on  by  one 
pin,  fluttered  like  a  flag  of  defiance.  Her  slippers, 
which  were  of  the  carpet  pattern,  were  left  behind 
on  the  prairie  to  perplex  the  wolves,  and  her  volu- 
minous hair — once  a  rich  auburn,  but  now  a  pearly 
grey — having  escaped  its  cap  and  fastenings,  was 
streaming  out  gaily  in  the  breeze,  as  if  to  tempt  the 
fingers  and  knife  of  the  pursuer. 

A  stern-chase  is  a  long  one,  whether  ashore  or 
afloat.  Pursuer  and  pursued  went  rapidly  down 
the  Settlement  until  they  came  in  sight  of  the  band 
which  had  come  to  rescue  Peg.  They  received  her 
with  a  wild  cheer  of  surprise  and  joy,  which  ti\rned 
the  Eedskin  to  the  right-about,  and  sent  him  back 
to  his  friends  much  faster  than  he  had  come. 

On  receiving  his  report,  the  half-breeds  at  once 
dashed  off  in  pursuit  of  the  settlers,  and  did  not 
draw  rein  until  they  reached  the  place  where  the 
Scotchmen  had  made  a  stand.  The  latter  were 
greatly  outnumbered,  at  least  in  fightiug  men,  but 
they  showed  such  a  resolute  front,  that  Cuthbort 
Grant,  the  half-breed  leader,  again  interfered  to 
prevent  bloodshed  if  possible.  After  calming  his 
men,  and  advising  forbearance,  he  turned  to  Duncan 
M'Kay  senior,  who  was  the  ^^^ettlers'  spokesman,  and 
said — 

"  If  you  will  go  peaceably  away  out  of  the  colony, 


> 

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92 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


we  will  spare  you,  but  if  you  show  fight  your  blood 
be  on  your  own  heads,  for  I  cannot  restrain  my  men 
much  longer." 

"Iss  it  sparin'  us  you  will  be  talkin'  of,  Cuth- 
bert  Grant  ? "  answered  the  Highlander,  with  scorn. 
"Wow!  but  if  it  wass  not  for  the  weemen  an' 
children  that's  with  as,  you  would  hev  a  goot 
chance  o'  bein'  in  need  o'  sparin'  yoursels ;  an'  it  iss 
not  much  o'  the  blood  o'  tho  Grants,  either,  that 's 
in  your  veins,  or  ye  would  scorn  to  consort  wi'  such 
fire-raisin'  cut-throats.  It  iss  the  fortune  of  war — 
whatever,  and  we  can't  affoord  to  leave  our  weemen 
an'  bairns  defenceless.  So  we  accept  your  terms,  if 
we  are  not  hindered  from  carryin'  away  our  arms." 

"Carry  away  whatever  you  like,  replied  Grant, 
quietly,  "  only  be  off  at  once,  or  I  '11  not  answer  for 
the  consequences." 

Thus  the  angry  Highlander  was  dismissed,  and 
in  the  end  the  unfortunate  settlers,  being  a  second 
time  driven  into  exile,  took  refuge,  as  before,  at 
Jack  River. 


OF  TIIE  RED  raVEll  PLAINS. 


93 


»> 


CHAPTER    X 

ARCHIE  AND  LITTLE  BILL  DO  WONDERS. 

We  change  the  scene  now  to  the  margin  of  a 
small  lake  embosomed  like  a  gem  in  the  great 
wilderness  of  the  Far  North. 

It  is  autumn.  The  sun  is  bright,  the  air  is  calm 
and  clear.  There  is  a  species  of  warm  haze  which, 
paradoxically,  does  not  seem  to  interfere  with  the 
clearness,  and  a  faint  zephyr  which  appears  rather 
to  emphasise  than  break  the  calm.  It  sends  a  soft 
cat's-paw  now  and  then  across  parts  of  the  lake, 
and  thus,  by  contrast,  brings  into  greater  pro- 
minence the  bright  reflection  of  trees  and  cloudland 
mirrored  in  its  depths.  Instead  of  being  the  pro- 
verbial "  dead  "  calm,  it  is,  if  we  may  so  pat  it, 
rather  a  lively,  cheerful  calm. 

The  liveliness  of  it  is  vastly  increased  by 
hundreds  of  water-fowl,  which  disport  themselvec^ 
on  the  surface  of  the  lake,  as  if  coquetting  with 
their  own  reflections,  or  whistle  round  its  margin 
while  busy  on  the  feeding-grounds. 

Myriads    of    mosquitoes    were    wont    there    to 


> 

I 

t 

# 

2 
3 

I 

is 

1  it 

:  ;5 


94 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


murmur  their  maddening  career  in  search  of 
blood,  but,  happily,  at  the  period  we  write  of, 
an  incidental  and  premonitory  night-frost  had 
relegated  these  to  the  graves  of  their  forefathers, 
or  to  the  mansions  of  Hiberna — we  know  not,  and 
care  not,  which. 

We  have  styled  the  lake  a  "  little "  one,  but  we 
must  remind  tho  reader  that  we  use  the  expression 
in  an  American  sense,  and  that  where  lakes  are  two 
and  three  hundred  miles  long,  a  little  one  can  well 
afford  to  be  twenty  or  thirty  miles  in  diameter, 
with,  perchance,  a  boundless  horizon.  The  lake  in 
question,  however,  was  really  a  little  one — not 
more  than  two  miles  in  length  or  breadth,  with  the 
opposite  shore  quite  visible,  and  a  number  of  islets 
of  various  sizes  on  its  bosom — all  more  or  less 
wooded,  and  all,  more  rather  than  less,  the  tem- 
porary homes  of  innumerable  wild  fowl,  among 
which  were  noisy  little  gulls  with  pure  white 
bodies  and  bright  red  legs  and  bills. 

On  the  morning  in  question — for  the  sun  was 
not  yet  much  above  the  horizon — a  little  birch 
bark  canoe  might  have  been  seen  to  glide 
noiselessly  from  a  bed  of  rushes,  and  proceed 
quietly,  yet  swiftly,  along  the  outer  margin  of  the 
bed. 

The  bow-paddle  was  wielded  by  a  stout  boy  with 
fair  curly  hair.  Another  boy,  of  gentle  mien  and 
sickly  aspect,  sat  in  the  stern  and  stee^'ed. 


OF  THE  llED  IIIVEU  PLAINS. 


95 


with 
and 


"  Little  Bill,"  said  the  stout  boy  in  a  low  voice, 
"  you  're  too  light.     This  will  never  do." 

"Archie,"  returned  the  other  with  a  languid 
smile,  "I  can't  help  it,  you  know — at  least  not 
in  a  hurry.  In  course  of  time,  if  I  eat  frightfully, 
I  may  grow  heavier,  but  just  now  there 's  no  remedy 
except  the  old  one  of  a  stone." 

"  That 's  true,  Little  Bill,"  responded  Archie  with 
a  perplexed  look,  as  he  glanced  inquiringly  along 
the  shore;  "nevertheless,  if  thought  could  make 
you  heavier,  you'd  soon  be  all  right,  for  you  *re  a 
powerful  thinker.  The  old  remedy,  you  see,  is  not 
available,  for  this  side  of  the  lake  is  low  and 
swampy.     I  don't  see  a  single  stone  anywhere." 

"  Never  mind,  get  along ;  we'll  come  to  one  soon, 
I  dare  say,"  said  the  other,  dipping  his  paddle  more 
briskly  over  the  side. 

The  point  which  troubled  Archie  Sinclair  was 
the  difference  in  weight  between  himself  and  his 
invalid  brother,  which,  as  he  occupied  the  bow, 
resulted  in  the  stern  of  the  light  craft  being  raised 
much  too  high  out  of  the  water.  Of  course  this 
could  have  been  remedied  by  their  changing  places, 
but  that  would  have  thrown  the  heavier  work  of 
the  bow-paddle  on  the  invalid,  who  happened  also 
to  be  the  better  steersman  of  the  two.  A  large 
stone  placed  in  the  stern  would  have  been  a  simple 
and  effective  remedy,  but,  as  we  have  seen,  no 
large  stone  was  procurable  just  then. 


> 

I 

i 
i 

> 

I 

3 

t 

5 

\ 

;3 


96 


TIIE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


■ft'  "' 


"It  didn't  much  matter  in  the  chinisy  wooden 
things  at  Red  River,"  said  Archie,  "but  this  egg- 
shell of  Ok(5matan's  is  very  different.  Ho  !  there 's 
one  at  last,"  he  continued  with  animation  as  they 
rounded  a  point  of  land,  and  opened  up  a  small 
bay,  on  the  margin  of  which  there  were  plenty  of 
pebbles,  and  some  large  water-worn  stones. 

One  of  these  having  been  placed  in  the  stern  of 
the  canoe,  and  the  balance  thus  rectified,  the  voyage 
was  continued. 

"  Don't  you  think  that  breakfast  on  one  of  these 
islets  would  be  nice  ? "  said  Billie. 

"Just  the  very  thing  k'hat  was  in  my  mind. 
Little  Bill,"  answered  his  brother. 

It  was  a  curious  peculiarity  in  this  sturdy  youth, 
that  whatever  his  invalid  brother  wished,  he  im- 
mediately wished  also.  Similarly,  when  Billie  didn't 
desire  anything,  Archie  did  not  desire  it.  In  short 
Billie's  opinion  was  Archie's  opinion,  and  Billie's 
will  was  Archie's  law.  Not  that  Archie  had  no  will 
or  opinion  of  his  own.  On  the  contrary,  he  was 
quite  sufficiently  gifted  in  that  way,  but  his  love 
and  profound  pity  for  the  poor  and  almost  helpless 
invalid  were  such  that  in  regard  to  him  he  had 
sunk  his  own  will  entirely.  As  to  opinions — well, 
he  did  differ  from  him  occasionally,  but  he  did  it 
mildly,  and  with  an  openness  to  conviction  which 
was  almost  enviable.  He  called  him  Bill,  Billie, 
or  Little  Bill,  according  to  fancy  at  the  moment. 


IP  :i 


«:./ir-' 


OF  THE  KED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


97 


Poor  boys!  The  sudden  death  of  both  parents 
had  been  a  terrible  blow  to  them,  and  had  inten- 
sified the  tenderness  with  which  the  elder  had  con- 
stituted himself  the  guardian  of  the  younger. 

When  the  Scotch  settlers  were  banished  from 
the  colony,  pity,  as  well  as  friendship  for  their 
deceased  parents,  induced  the  Davidson  family  to 
adopt  the  boys,  and  now,  in  exile,  they  were  out 
hunting  by  themselves  to  aid  in  replenishing  the 
general  store  of  provisions. 

It  need  scarcely  be  said  that  at  this  period  of  the 
year  the  exiled  colonists  were  not  subjected  to 
severe  hardships,  for  che  air  was  alive  with  wild 
fowl  returning  south  from  their  breeding-grounds, 
and  the  rivers  and  lakes  were  swarming  wita  fish, 
many  of  them  of  excellent  quality. 

"  This  will  do — won't  it  ? "  said  Archie,  pointing 
witli  his  paddle  to  an  islet  about  a  hundred  yards 
in  diameter. 

"Yes,  famously,"  responded  Little  Bill,  as  he 
steered  towards  a  shelving  rock  which  formed  a 
convenient  landing-place. 

The  trees  and  shrubs  covered  the  islet  to  the 
water's  edge  with  dense  foliage,  that  glowed  with  all 
the  gorgeous  colouring  for  which  North  American 
woods  in  autumn  are  celebrated.  An  open  grassy 
space  just  beyond  the  landing-place  seemed  to  have 
been  formed  by  nature  for  the  express  purpose  of 
accommodating  picnic  parties. 

G 


> 

I 

) 

I 

3 

I 

3 

\ 


98 


TlIK  BUFFALO  liUNNEUS  :    A  TALK 


"Nothing  could  liave  bc^n  better,"  said  Archie, 
drawing  up  the  bow  of  the  canoe,  and  stooping  to 
lift  his  brother  out. 

"  I  think  I  '11  try  to  walk — it 's  such  a  short  bit," 
said  Billie. 

"  D'ye  think  so  ?  well,  I  've  no  doubt  you  can  do 
it.  Little  Bill,  for  you  've  got  a  brave  spirit  of  your 
own,  but  there 's  a  wet  bit  o'  moss  you  '11  have  to 
cross  which  you  mayn't  have  noticed.  "Would  you 
like  to  be  lifted  over  that,  and  so  keep  your  moc- 
casins dry  ? " 

"  Archie,  you  're  a  humbug.  You  're  always  try- 
ing to  make  me  give  you  needless  trouble." 

"Well,  have  it  your  own  way.  Little  Bill.  I'll 
help  you  to  waliv  up." 

"No,  carry  me,"  said  Billie,  stretching  out  his 
arms ;  "  I  've  changed  my  mind." 

"  I  will,  if  you  prefer  it.  Little  Bill,"  said  Archie, 
lifting  his  brother  in  his  strong  arms  and  setting 
him  down  on  the  convenient  spot  before  referred  to. 

Billie  was  not  altogether  helpless.  He  could 
stand  on  his  weak  legs  and  even  walk  a  little  with- 
out support,  but  to  tramp  through  the  woods,  or 
clamber  up  a  hill,  was  to  him  an  absolute  impos- 
sibility. He  had  to  content  himself  with  enjoy- 
ments of  a  milder  type.  And,  to  do  him  justice,  he 
seemed  to  have  no  difficulty  in  doing  so.  Perhaps 
he  owed  it  to  his  mother,  who  had  been  a  singularly 
contented  woman  and  had  taught  Billie  from  his 


OF  THE  KED  llIVEll  PLAINS. 


99 


Archie, 
ping  to 

)rb  bit," 

can  do 
3f  your 
lave  to 
ild  you 
ir  moc- 

ys  try- 

L     I'll 

lut  his 

!\.rchie, 

setting 

red  to. 

could 

I  with- 

)ds,  or 

mpos- 

enjoy. 

ce,  he 

rhaps 

ularly 

ni  his 


earliest  years  the  truth  that  "contentment,  with 
godliness,  is  great  gain."  Billie  did  not  announce 
his  belief  in  this  truth,  but  he  proclaimed  it  un- 
wittingly by  the  more  powerful  force  of  example. 

Breakfast  is  a  pleasant  meal  at  any  time  if  the 
operator  be  hungry,  but  who  shall  describe  the 
delights  of  breakfast  when  eaten  in  com^  any  with 
several  thousand  wild-fowl,  in  a  romantic  wilder- 
ness with  fresh  air  laden  with  the  perfumes  of 
the  vegetable  kingdom  encircling  the  person ;  the 
glorious  sunshine  dazzling  the  eyes;  the  sweet 
songs  of  animated  nature  thrilling  the  ears,  and  the 
gentle  solicitations  of  an  expectant  appetite  craving 
within  ?  Words  are  wasted  in  such  an  effort.  We 
feel  constrained  to  leave  it — as  we  have  not  seldom 
left  many  a  thing  before  now — to  the  reader's  more 
or  less  vivid  imagination. 

A  blazing  fire  of  pine-logs  boiled  two  tin  kettles 
and  roasted  two  fat  wild-ducks.  In  one  of  the 
kettles  Archie  compounded  and  stirred  robbiboo — 
of  which,  perhaps,  the  less  said  the  better.  In  the 
other,  Billie  infused  a  small  quantity  of  tea.  The 
roasting  ducks — split  open,  impaled  on  sticks  and 
set  up  before  the  fire — looked  after  themselves  till 
they  began  to  burn,  when  they  were  turned  by 
Archie  and  again  neglected  for  a  few  minutes. 

It  was  a  glorious  meal  in  all  respects,  and  even 
Billie,  whose  appetite  was  moderately  strong,  en- 
joyed  it  immensely — none  the  less  that   he   had 


I 


> 

m 

I 
I 
3 

% 

\ 

l 

|3 


100 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


M.| 


:  I 


I  '     •  I 


asked  a  blessing  on  it  before  beginning,  and  all  the 
more  that  he  sympathised  fully  with  his  brother  in 
his  possession  of  an  amazing — a  shamelessly  rv>bust 
— capacity  for  food. 

"  Now,  we  *11  go  to  work,"  remarked  Archie,  wiping 
liis  mouth  with  a  sigh  of  contentment  (he  had 
nothing  else  to  wipe  it  with!)  after  finishing  the 
last  spoonful  of  robbiboo,  the  last  limb  of  duck  and 
the  last  mug  of  tea. 

Such  a  remark  at  such  a  period  in  the  entertain- 
ment caused  Billie  to  laugh. 

"  Why,  Archie,  you  've  been  at  work  this  half-hour, 
and  there 's  nothing  left  to  go  to  w^ork  upon  now." 

"You  know  quite  well.  Little  Bill,  that  I  refer 
to  the  day's  work.  What  is  it  to  be  ?  Provisions 
must  be  got  if  the  camp  is  not  to  starve,  and  you 
and  I  are  bound  to  do  our  share.  Shall  we  go  to 
Willow  Point  and  shoot  ducks  and  geese,  or  cross 
the  lake  and  trawl  for  fish  ? " 

"Both,"  answered  the  invalid  with  decision. 
"  We  '11  do  both.  We  will  paddle  to  Willow  Point, 
and  try  for  jack-fish  on  the  way." 

"  Just  so — the  very  thing.  Little  Bill.  Are  you 
ready  to  start  ? " 

Billie  professed  himself  quite  ready.  Archie  took 
him  on  his  back,  replaced  him  in  the  stern  of  the 
canoe  in  company  with  the  big  stone,  and  then 
stepped  gently  into  his  own  place  at  the  bow,  where 
a  common  trading  gun,  with  the  old-fashioned  flint 


OF  TIIK  RKD  RIVE  11  PLAINS. 


lOl 


lock  and  single  barrel,  rested  against  the  gunwale. 
Pushing  off,  they  soon  left  Breakfast-isle  for  behind 
them,  and  crept  swiftly  along  by  the  margin  of  the 
reeds. 

On  the  way  Billic  cast  out  his  fishing-line.  It  was 
a  strong  cod-line,  with  a  great  cod-hook  attached  and 
a  lump  of  fat  pork  on  it ;  for  Archie,  in  the  fervour 
of  hope  coupled  with  piscatoi'^l  ignorance  and  a 
sanguine  disposition,  had  strongly  advised  his  brother 
to  err,  if  err  he  must,  on  the  safe  side,  and  be  pre- 
pared for  anything,  from  a  great  lake-serpent  to  a 
freshwater  whale. 

No  civilised  fish  would  have  deigned  to  give  a 
second  thought  to  the  obvious  deception  which  a 
mass  of  indigestible  pork  presented,  but  fish  of  the 
backwoods — especially  in  the  early  years  of  this 
century — were  not  suspicious.  An  enormous  pike, 
or  "  jack-fish,"  coveted  that  bait  and  took  it.  Not 
only  so,  but  it  took  the  great  cod-hook  and  ten 
inches  of  the  line  besides. 

A  shout  such  as  Billie  had  not  uttered  for  many 
months  announced  the  fact. 

"  Hi  1  hold  on,  Archie !  Back  water !  I  say,  I  'd 
believe  I  had  hanked  the  bottom  if  it  didn't  tug 
in  such  a  lively  way ! " 

"  Pay  out  line.  Little  Bill ! "  cried  the  other,  look- 
ing over  his  shoulder  with  blazing  eyes,  but  unable 
to  render  any  assistance  owing  to  the  small  size  and 
crank  nature  of  the  canoe.     "  Stay,  I  '11  turn  about 


> 
} 

0 

t 

3 

i 

t 


102 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS:   A  TAI  R 


V,  i 


I'      Vl>.  <  ■■ 


l<  I 


and  become  steersman,  while  you  play  the — whew ! 
It 's  a  whale !    I  say — ease  off ! " 

"  Ease  off ! "  cried  Billie  in  desperation  ;  "  how 
can  I  ease  off,  with  only  a  few  yards  o'  the  line 
left?" 

"Pitch  the  reel  bad:  to  me  then.  I'll  manage 
it ! "  cried  Archie,  who  had  converted  the  bow  of 
the  canoe  into  the  stern — both  ends  being  alike — 
by  the  simple  process  of  turning  himself  round  and 
sitting  with  his  face  towards  his  brother. 

What  Archie  had  styled  the  reel  was  simply  a 
piece  of  stick  with  the  line  wound  round  it.  His 
brother  pitched  it  to  him  with  one  hand  while  the 
desperate  jerking  of  the  other — indeed  of  his  whole 
body — told  at  once  of  the  size  and  the  impatience 
of  the  fish. 

Unwinding  the  line  in  haste,  Archie  fastened  the 
extreme  end  of  it  to  two  spare  paddles  and  flung 
them  overboard. 

"  Now,  Little  Bill,"  he  said ;  "  you  may  let  him 
ha^o  his  head,  and  if  you  can't  hold  on  without 
risking  the  line  just  let  it  go." 

As  he  spoke  the  captive  made  another  rush — 
not  very  frantic  indeed,  for  the  pike  is  a  sluggish 
creature  in  all  waters — but  with  a  steady  persis- 
tency that  meant  resolution  of  purpose.  In  a  few 
seconds  our  invalid  was  compelled  to  let  go,  and, 
the  line  tightening,  the  paddles  disappeared  with 
a  jerk. 


OF  THE  KEI)  RIVKR  PLAINS. 


103 


whew ! 

"  how 
16  line 

Qanago 

DOW  of 

like — 
id  and 

iply  a 
,  His 
lie  the 
whole 
-tience 

Jd  the 
flung 

b  him 
:thout 

ish — 
ggish 
ersis- 
i  few 
and, 
with 


Soon  after  they  reappeared,  and  the  boys  paddled 
towards  them  with  a  cheer,  picked  tliem  up  and  the 
battle  was  renewed. 

It  would  be  tedious  to  recount  all  the  incidents 
of  that  fight.  We  can  only  say  that  after  a  struggle 
tliat  lasted  an  hour — according  to  the  younger 
brother;  two  hours  and  a  half,  according  to  the 
elder — a  pike  of  about  four  feet  in  length  was 
hauled  into  the  canoe. 

"That's  enough  of  fishing  for  one  day,"  remarked 
Billie,  wiping  his  heated  brow. 

"Quite  enough,"  assented  the  other;  "shall  we 
make  for  Willow  Point  now.  Little  Bill  ? " 

"  Yes.     We  will  try  the  shooting  now." 

In  accordance  with  this  plan,  the  direction  of  the 
canoe  was  changed,  and,  early  in  the  afternoon,  the 
young  hunters  found  themselves  alongside  of  a  low 
point  of  rocks  which  stretched  well  out  into  the 
lake,  leaving  a  deep  bay  on  either  side.  The  ex- 
treme end  of  the  point  consisted  of  naked  rock, 
but  the  greater  part  of  it  was  covered  with  a  dense 
under-growth  of  low  willow  bushes. 

Here  they  disembarked,  and  Archie,  as  before, 
carried  his  brother  to  the  highest  part  of  the  low 
point,  where  a  piece  of  green  sward,  free  from  bushes, 
formed  an  attractive  resting-place. 

"  Sit  there  now,  Billie,  till  I  get  some  brush,  an* 
make  yourself  useful  by  cutting  out  goose  heads. 
See,  here  are  some  branches  o*  the  right  sort  ready 


> 

m 

!) 

111 
) 

I 

t 


104 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


1i 


.  I   II 


to  hand.     No  doubt  some  Eedskins  have  been  at 
work  here  before  us." 

He  picked  up  some  pieces  of  wood  which  Nature 
had  formed  more  or  less  to  resemble  the  heads 
and  necks  of  geese.  By  a  verj'-  slight  use  of  the 
knife  Billie  converted  these  into  excellent  portraits. 
When  he  had  finished  half-a-dozen  of  them,  his 
brother  had  cut  and  brought  to  the  spot  a  number 
of  bushy  branches  about  two  or  three  feet  high. 
These  were  soon  stuck  into  the  ground  in  a  small 
circle  so  as  to  resemble  a  growing  bush,  behind,  or, 
rather,  in  the  midst  of  which,  they  could  effectually 
conceal  themselves  by  crouching. 

While  this  was  being  constructed  the  elder  brother 
went  down  to  the  edge  of  the  water  and  made 
half-a-dozen  mad-heaps  well  within  gunshot,  which 
when  the  artificial  heads  and  necks  were  attached 
to  thvim,  formed  such  exact  counterparts  of  geese 
that  the  wild  birds  might  well  be  excused  for  mis- 
taking them  for  friends.  Indeed  tyros  at  this  work 
have  been  known  to  fire  at  such  decoys  believing 
them  to  be  genuine  birds. 

Even  while  they  were  thus  engaged  one  and 
another  flock  of  ducks  and  geese  passed  them  on 
their  way  lo  warmer  climes  ;  of  course  sheering  off 
as  they  passed.  But  when  the  arrangement  was 
completed,  and  the  two  boys,  crouchin^-^  low,  gazed 
at  the  horizon  with  eager  looks,  the  wild  birds  no 
longer  avoided  the  spot.     On  the  contrary,  seeing 


Lj^ 


OF  THE  RED  lUVKR  PLAINS. 


105 


been  at 

I  Nature 
e  heads 
I  of  the 
ortraits. 
em,  his 
number 
2t  high, 
a.  small 
lind,  or, 
actually 

brother 
made 
which 
}tached 
geese 
)r  mis- 
s  work 
lieving 

e  and 
em  on 
ing  off 
t  was 
gazed 
ds  no 


Iseemg 


the  decoys,  they  rather  inclined  to  pass  close  to  the 
place. 

In  flying  down  a  river,  or  along  the  margin  of  a 
lake,  wild  birds  may  diverge  a  little  to  follow  the 
sinuosities  of  bank  or  shore,  but  they  will  not  get 
out  of  the  way  of  a  projecting  promontory;  they 
rather  make  a  short  cut  by  crossing  over  it. 

The  young  hunters  had  not  to  wait  long. 

"  There  's  a  flock  of  geese  coming,"  said  Archie  in 
a  whisper,  though  the  birds  were  at  the  moment 
some  miles  away.    "  Take  the  first  shot.  Little  Bill." 

They  had  only  one  gun  between  them. 

"  I  don't  like  to,"  said  Billie,  "  that  thing  gave  me 
such  an  awful  kick  last  time,  and  I  can't  stand  it 
now." 

"  0  !  there  's  no  fear,  I  put  in  only  a  small  c'large 
of  powder-  aud-shot,  on  purpose.  It  won't  kick  hard 
this  time.     Try." 

"  Well,  I  '11  try,"  said  Billie,  taking  the  gun. 

"  Aim  well  in  advance.  Bill.  They  fly  fast,  and 
primin'  gets  damp  sometimes." 

A  flock  of  small  geese  was  approaching.  The 
boys  became  dumb,  but  they  had  remarkably  speak- 
ing eyes. 

Animated  by  curiosity,  the  flock  descended  to 
observe  the  decoys.  How  often  that  feeling  of 
curiosity  has  proved  fatal — not  only  to  feathered 
geese ! 

Little   Bill  raised    his    gnn.      Puff"!    went    the 


m 

0 

\ 

% 

i 


t 


lOG 


I      ! 


!  '.  i 


Miij 


!  '  i 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


priming.  Bang!  went  the  charge.  One  of  tlie 
birds,  describing  a  beautiful  curve,  fell  with  bursting 
violence  on  the  ground. 

"  Well  done,  Billie,"  cried  his  brother  enthusiasti- 
cally as  he  leaped  over  the  sheltering  brush  and  ran 
to  secure  the  prize.  "  A  few  like  that  will  give  a 
supper  to  the  whole  camp.  Now,  then,"  he  added  on 
returning,  "  you  '11  try  again." 

"  No,  Archie.  It 's  your  turn  now — and  the  thing 
did  give  nie  a  tremendous  kick." 

"  But  I  will  put  in  still  less  powder  this  time. 
Little  Bill,  and  less  shot  too,  so  you  '11  have  to  be 
careful  of  your  aim.  See,  there's  another  flock 
coming — there,  take  it,  aud  down  with  you.  I  do 
|;)elieve  they  are  big  fellows." 

Thus  encouraged,  Billie  took  the  gun  and  crouched 
low.  His  brother  was  right.  Tt  was  a  flock  of  the 
great  grey  geese  of  Canada  which  now  approa'^hed. 
The  hearts  of  both  boys  beat  high,  for  they  were  not 
only  actuated  by  what  is  termed  the  sporting  tend- 
ency, but  by  the  desire  to  contribute  their  fair  share 
to  the  general  larder  of  their  friends,  who  were 
encaiDped  a  considerable  distance  off  at  the  other 
end  of  the  lake. 

"  Okdmatan  will  open  his  eyes  if  we  take  back  a 
goose  or  two  like  these;  why,  they  are  swans 
almost!"  whispered  Archie, as  the  birds  approached 
in  the  form  of  an  angle.  "  Take  the  big  fat  one  on 
the  left — the  one  now  squintin'  down  at  the  decoys." 


ai 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


107 


le  of  the 
bursting 


thusiasti- 
i  and  ran 
1  give  a 
idded  on 


he  thing 

lis  time, 
e  to  be 
ior  flock 
1.    I  do 

Touched 
k  of  the 
roaohed. 
vere  not 
ig  tend- 
ir  share 
.0  were 
e  other 

back  a 

swans 

raached 

one  on 

lecoys." 


Billie  obeyed,  and  fired.  The  result  was,  in  a 
manner,  threefold.  First,  the  boy's  aim  was  so  good 
that  the  big  fat  fellow  dropped  like  a  stone  not  three 
yards  from  their  position.  Second,  the  hitherto  silent 
and  symmetrically  arranged  flock  went  into  dire  con- 
fusion and  sheered  off  in  trumpeting  convulsions ; 
and,  third,  a  scaii:ering  shot,  having  found  its  billet 
in  the  head  of  another  goose  immediately  behind 
the  first  one,  caused  it  to  plunge  right  into  the  camp, 
straiglit  for  the  head  of  Little  Bill.  Archie,  ignorant 
of  this,  was  in  the  very  act  of  leaping  over  the  brush 
to  secure  the  first  goose,  and  had  fortunately  got 
in  front  of  his  brother  at  the  right  moment  when 
the  second  goose  caught  him  on  the  shoulder  and 
knocked  him  into  the  poor  invalid's  arms. 

He  was  stunned  at  first,  and  rose  in  a  few 
moments  in  some  degree  of  mental  confusion  ;  but 
he  was  not  much  the  worse  for  the  accident  and 
greatly  rejoiced  at  his  fortunate  escape,  as  well  as 
the  splendid  shooting,  of  Little  Bill. 

It  must  not  be  supposed  that  the  brothers  con- 
tinued to  shoot  at  this  rate.  Comparatively  few- 
flocks  of  geese  passed  over  Willow  Point  that  day, 
but  numerous  flocks  of  wild-ducks  did,  and  before 
evening  had  put  an  end  to  their  work,  they  had 
secured  a  fair  canoe-load  of  game. 

That  night  they  lighted  their  camp-fire  among  the 
neighbouring  willows;  feasted  luxuriously  on  part 
of  the  day's  hunt ;   lay  down  side  by  side  under 


> 

3 


!i; 


1  i 


ii 

i! 


v-  i 


108 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


one  blanket,  with  tlie  upturned  canoe  partially 
covering  them ;  dreamed  at  first  of  Ok^matan, 
gazing  in  wonder  at  their  load,  and,  afterwards,  of 
being  knocked  head  over  heel?  by  an  enormous 
grey  goose  whose  persistent  pugnacity  was  only 
equalled  by  its  strange  incapacity  to  achieve  its 
murderous  ends. 

Ultimf.tely  Oblivion  came  to  their  rescue,  and  the 
young  hunters  fell  into  a  dreamless  slumber,  with 
the  smoking  camp-fire  sending  an  occasional  gleam 
of  ruddy  light  on  their  recumbent  forms,  and  the 
dark  sky  with  its  hosts  of  twinkling  stars  serving 
for  a  gorgeous  canopy. 


OF  THE  llED  IIIVEK  I'LAINS. 


100 


partially 

Okdmatan, 

Ji'wards,  of 

enormous 

was  only 

chieve  its 

le,  and  the 
iber,  with 
lal  gleam 
and  the 
3  serving 


CHAPTER  XL 

SHOWS  SOME  OF  THE   TROUBLES  OP  PIONEER  COLONISTS. 

Ok^matan  was  not  the  only  person  who  opened 
his  eyes  on  the  return  of  the  Sinclair  boys  to  camp 
next  day  with  their  heavily  laden  canoe.  The 
Davidson  and  M'Kay  families  were  much  more 
emphatic  in  their  astonishment,  for  the  boys,  they 
knew,  had  not  hitherto  performed  any  exploits  in 
shooting.  They  had  not  supposed  them  gifted  with 
even  ordinary  powers  as  sportsmen,  and  had  imagined 
that  the  poor  invalid  little  Bill  was  utterly  helpless. 
On  the  other  hand,  Okematan  was  not  unacquainted 
with  the  sudden  rise  to  unexpected  celebrity  of 
Indian  boys  in  his  tribe,  and  knew  something  about 
the  capacity  of  even  cripples  to  overcome  difficulties 
when  driven  by  that  stern  taskmaster.  Necessity. 

The  abundant  supply  of  provisions  thus  un- 
expectedly received  was  very  acceptable,  because 
during  the  day  on  which  the  boys  were  absent,  a 
fresh  band  of  immigrants  had  arrived  on  their  way 
to  Red  River,  and  one  party  of  these,  hailing  from 
Switzerland,  had  come  on  to  the  little  lake  where 


> 

i 

> 

■ 

Z 
3 

I 

8 


110 


THE  BUFFALO  UUNNEllS:   A  TALE 


i'l; 


r    I;    'l 


our  Scotch  friends  were  encamped,  for  the  purpose 
of  consulting  as  to  their  future  movements — for  it 
was  evident  that  it  would  be  dangerous  as  well  as 
Useless  for  them  to  proceed  to  Eed  Kiver  in  the 
existing  state  of  affairs.  The  leader  of  the  party 
was  a  fair-haired  youth,  who  could  speak  English 
very  well. 

The  Scotch  families  were  having  their  mid-day 
meal  around  the  camp-fires,  when  the  Switzers 
arrived  and  introduced  themselves.  Of  course  they 
were  made  heartily  welcome  by  Mr.  Sutherland, 
who  acted  as  spokesman  for  his  countrymen. 

"We  are  unfortunate,"  said  the  leader  of  the 
new  arrivals,  whose  name  was  Andre  Morel. 
"  We  hoped  that  the  severe  climate  would  be  our 
only  foe  to  light  with — especially  in  a  land  where 
the  people  are  so  few." 

Sutherland — whose  sedate  and  quiet  manner  was 
consistent  with  his  position  as  an  elder  and  spiri- 
tual guide  of  his  countrymen  at  that  time — smiled 
gravely,  shook  his  head,  and  stroked  his  chin. 

"  You  will  rind,"  he  said,  "  that  whatever  part 
of  this  world  you  go  to,  the  passions  of  man  are 
always  more  deadly  in  their  consequences  than 
surroundings,  or  climates,  or  anything  else " 

"  H'm  !  what  you  say  iss  ferry  true,"  remarked 
old  M'Kay,  who  was  busy  picking  the  drumstick 
of  a  wild-goose  at  the  moment.  "If  it  wass  not 
for  the  jealousy  an'  ill-will  o'  the  North-Westers  we 


<i  ■■' 


\    W'-:!ii 


OF  THE  KED  RIVEU  PLAINS, 


111 


IG 


purpose 

its — for  it 

well  as 

er  ill  the 

the  party 

:  English 

mid-day 

Svvitzers 

urse  they 

theiiand, 

n. 

r  of  the 
Morel, 
d  be  our 
id  where 

iner  was 
ad  spiri- 
— smiled 
n. 

er  part 
nan  are 
3S  than 


» 


marked 
imstick 
ass  not 
ters  we 


should  hev  been  at  this  goot  hour  in  our  comfortable 
houses  amang  the  green  fields  of  Rud  Ruver." 

"Wheesht!  faither!"  interposed  Duncan  junior, 
"Mr.  Sutherland  wass  speakin',  an*  ye've  stoppit 
him." 

"  An'  what  if  I  hev,  Tuncan  ?  Can  he  not  con- 
tinoo  to  speak  when  I  hev  done  ? "  retorted  the  old 
man,  resuming  his  drumstick. 

"You  are  right,  Mr.  M'Kay,"  said  the  elder. 
"  But  for  the  unfortunate  jealousies  of  the  two 
Companies,  we  might  have  been  in  very  different 
circumstances  to-day.  If  the  North-Westers  could 
only  see  that  the  establishment  of  a  colony  in  Red 
River  would  in  no  way  hinder  the  fur-trade,  we 
could  all  get  along  peaceably  enough  together.  But 
it  seems  to  have  been  ordained  that  man  shall 
reach  every  good  thing  through  much  tribulation." 

"  I  do  not  agree  wi'  you  at  all,  Muster  Suther- 
land," said  old  M'Kay.  "There  iss  many  of  rich 
people  in  this  world,  who  hev  all  that  hert  can 
wush,  an'  are  born  to  it  without  hevin'  any  treebu- 
lation  at  all." 

"  But  I  did  not  say  '  all  that  heart  could  wish,' 
Mr.  M'Kay.     I  said  *  every  good  thing '." 

"Well,  an'  iss  not  wealth  a  goot  thing,  Muster 
Sutherland  ? " 

"Only  if  God's  blessing  goes  along  with  it," 
returned  the  elder.  "If  it  does  not,  wealth  is  a 
curse." 


> 

m 

t 
> 

m 

t 
3 

Z 

3 

St 


112 


THE  BUFFALO  BUNNET^ft  :   A  TALE 


I  M 


i!ll 


I  1 


II 


nn   : 

ii:  ' 

!!it:; 
ii;  ' 


"  H'm  !  I  wush  T  had  a  little  more  o'  that  curse — 
^vhateve^,"  answered  the  irreverent  old  man. 

"  Besides,"  continued  Sutherland,  not  noticing  the 
remark,  "  the  rich  are  by  no  means  exempt  from 
tribulation.  They  are  sometimes  afflicted  with  bad 
children ;  not  infrequently  with  bad  health,  which 
doctors,  at  two  or  three  guineas  a  visit,  cannot  cure, 
and  many  of  them  are  much  troubled  with  poverty! " 

"  You  are  talking  in  ruddles  now,  Muster  Suther- 
land," said  old  Duncan,  who,  having  finished  the 
drumstick  and  its  duplicate,  was  preparing  his  pipe 
for  action. 

"It  is   not  much   of   a  riddle,  Mr.   M'Kay.     I 
suppose  you  consider  a  man  with  ten  thousand  a 
year  rich,  and  a  man  v/ith  two  hundred  poor." 
'  Well,  yes  ;  I  wull  not  be  denyin'  that." 

"Well — if  the  rich  man  spends  ten  thousand 
and  fifty  pounds  a  year  and  never  has  anything  to 
spare  or  to  lay  by,  is  he  not  miserably  poor — poor 
in  spirit  as  well  as  in  purse  ?  For,  at  the  end  of  the 
year  his  purse  is  empty,  and  he  is  in  debt.  On  the 
other  hand,  if  the  man  with  two  hundred  a  year 
spends  one  hundred  and  fifty,  gives  away  twenty, 
and  lays  by  thirty  every  year,  is  he  not  rich  ?  " 

"Ferry  true.  Muster  Sutherland,"  said  M'Kay, 
with  a  peculiar  smile,  as  he  emitted  his  first  whiff. 
"  I  wull  not  be  arguin'  wi'  you,  for  you  always  get 
the  best  of  it.  Nevertheless,  it  is  my  opeenion  that 
we've  had  treebulation  enough  in  Rud  Ruver  since 


1  ill 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


113 


t  curse — 
1. 

dicing  the 
ipt  from 
with  bad 
h,  which 
not  cure, 
overty!" 
Suther- 
ihed  the 
his  pipe 

Kay.     I 

usaiid  a 
, »» 

>  • 

loiisand 
:hing  to 
r — poor 
i  of  the 
On  the 
a  year 
iwenty, 

H'Kay, 
'  whiff. 
ys  get 
•n  that 
'  since 


we  came  oot,  an'  I  would  be  ferry  gled  of  a  luttle 
prosperity  now — if  only  byway  of  a  pleesant  change." 

Eecurring  to  this  subject  a  few  days  later,  young 
Morel  asked  Dan  Davidson,  while  they  were 
paddling  back  to  camp  together  one  evening  with 
the  proceeds  of  a  day's  hunt :  "  Has  your  life  in  the 
colony,  since  the  beginning,  been  as  bad  as  old 
M'Kay  made  it  out  the  other  day  ? " 

"  Well,  making  due  allowance  for  the  old  man's 
use  of  strong  language,  his  account  of  matters  has 
not  been  much  overdrawn,"  answered  Dan,  who,  in 
virtue  of  his  superior  canoe-craft,  acted  the  part  of 
steersman.  "  You  see,  when  we  came  out  here  we 
expected,  like  you,  that  all  would  be  plain  sailing, 
except  as  regarded  climate  and  ordinary  difficulties, 
but  our  eyes  were  soon  opened  to  the  true  state  of 
things.  Instead  of  the  wilderness,  with  a  few  peace- 
ful inhabitants  living  under  the  mild  sway  of  the 
Hudson  Bay  Company,  we  found  another  company, 
apparently  as  strong  as  the  Hudson's  Bay  one,  in  vio- 
lent opposition.  They  regarded  our  coming  as  likely 
to  ruin  their  trade,  for  Lord  Selkirk  was  a  share- 
holder in  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  and  it  was 
supposed  his  object  in  planting  the  colony  was  to 
advance  his  scheme  of  monopolising  the  whole  fur- 
trade  of  the  Far  West.  I  cannot  myself  see  how  this 
colony  could  injure  the  fur-trade;  but,  anyhow,  I 
know  that  the  opposition  has  affected  the  colonists 
very   severely,  for  we  have  been  deceived  by  the 


> 

•v 

'  m 

■  U 

]> 

Z 

0 

lli 
J 

f« 

( 

J3 


114 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


|l  V: 


i 

i 

1 

ii 

1 

! 

1 

nil 


M 


•  11 '. 


!    ! 


■-„'  i 


il' 
II!   1 


contending  parties,  and  misled,  and  delayed  or 
thwarted  in  all  our  operations. 

"  At  the  very  outset,  on  our  arrival,  a  band  of  the 
Nor'-Westers,  composed  of  half-breeds  and  Indians, 
warned  us  that  our  presence  was  unwelcome,  and 
tried  to  frighten  us  away  by  their  accounts  of  the 
savage  nature  of  the  natives.  Then  the  fear  of  per- 
ishing for  want  of  food  induced  a  lot  of  us  to  take 
their  advice,  leave  the  farms  allotted  to  us,  and  go  to 
a  place  called  Pembina,  about  seventy  miles  distant 
from  the  colony,  there  to  spend  the  long  and  hard 
winter  in  tents,  according  to  the  Indian  fashion,  and 
live  on  the  produce  of  the  chase." 

"I  should  have  thought  that  was  a  pleasant 
way  of  spending  the  first  winter,"  remarked  Andr(5 
Morel,  who,  besides  being  young,  was  strong  and 
enthusiastic. 

"  So  thought  some  of  us  at  first,"  returned  Dan, 
"  but  when  we  found  that  the  thermometer  fell  to 
somewhere  between  40  and  50  degrees  below  zero; 
that  walking  in  snow-shoes,  trapping,  hunting  buffalo, 
and  shooting,  were  not  to  be  learned  in  a  few  days ; 
and  when  we  saw  our  women  and  children  dependent 
sometimes  on  the  charity  of  Indians,  and  reduced 
almost  to  starvation,  we  changed  our  minds  as  to 
the  pleasure  of  the  thing.  However,  if  the  school 
was  rough,  it  made  the  scholars  all  the  quicker,  and 
now  I  think  that  most  of  us  are  equal  to  the  Red- 
skins themselves  at  their  own  work. 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


115 


"  When  that  winter  came  to  an  end,"  continued 
Dan,  "  we  returned  to  Ked  River,  in  the  month  of 
May,  v.'iser  men,  thoroughly  determined  to  plant 
and  sow,  and  make  ourselves  independent  of  the 
savages.  But  hunger  followed  us,  for  fisli  were 
scarce  that  season ;  so  were  roots  and  berries ;  and, 
if  it  had  not  been  for  a  kind  of  parsnip  wliich  grows 
wild  in  the  plains,  and  a  species  of  eatable  nettle, 
I  do  believe  some  of  us  would  have  gone  under 
altogether." 

"  And  did  your  first  sowing  turn  out  well?"  asked 
the  young  Swiss,  who  having  been  bred  a  watch- 
maker, had  only  hazy  notions  as  to  farming. 

"  Ay,  there  was  a  gleam  of  prosperity  there  that 
led  us  to  hope  great  things  for  the  future,"  answered 
Dan ;  "  but  the  gleam  did  not  continue.  Why,  one 
fellow,  not  far  from  our  place,  sowed  four  quarts  of 
wheat,  and  reaped  twelve  and  a  half  bushels ;  but 
we  had  terrible  trouble  to  save  our  crops  from  the 
birds.  In  the  Spring  and  Fall,  blackbirds  and  wild 
pigeons  pass  over  the  prairies  on  their  way  north 
or  south,  in  immense  numbers.  They  pass  in  such 
numbers  that  they  could,  I  do  believe,  swallow  our 
whole  harvest,  if  they  got  only  a  grain  a-piece. 
The  berries  failed  them  that  year,  an'  men,  women, 
and  children  had  to  work  hard  wi'  guns,  bird-nets, 
and  rattles,  from  morning  to  night,  to  say  nothing 
o'  scarecrows.  We  had  resolved  never  to  go  near 
Pembina  again,  but  what  we  saved  of  the  harvest 


'1 


> 

i 
> 

m 

2 
3 

2 

9 

w 

i 
i3 


IIG 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


!i 


iJllHi 


was  little  more  than  enough  for  seed,  so  we  were 
forced  to  try  it  for  another  winter.  Troubles  again 
awaited  us  there.  The  half-breeds  and  Indians — 
who  had  been  kind  at  first — became  jealous.  A 
plot  was  discovered  to  murder  two  of  our  party 
who  had  undertaken  to  hunt,  so  we  were  obliged 
to  buy  our  provisions  at  a  high  price,  and  even  to 
barter  away  our  clothing  to  avoid  starvation,  and 
we  returned  half-naked  to  the  Settlement  the  fol- 
lowing spring.  Then,  coming  upon  us  in  armed 
bands  and  superior  numbers,  they  drove  us  out  of 
the  Settlement  altogether  at  last,  and  we  came  here 
to  Jack  River  to  spend  the  winter  as  we  best  could. 
After  that  we  went  back  and  struggled  on  for  some 
time,  but  now,  here  have  they  a  second  time 
banished  us!  What  the  end  is  to  be,  who  can 
tell  ? " 

"  Truly,  if  such  be  the  country  I  have  come  to,  I 
will  go  back  to  my  native  land  and  make  watches," 
remarked  the  Swiss  in  a  tone  from  which  the  san- 
guine element  had  almost  entirely  disappeared. 


;: 


ji;!! 


hi 


.     I 


OF  THE  RED  UIVHR  PLAINS. 


117 


I? 


CHAPTER    XII. 


ROUND  THE  CAMP  FIRKS. 


Had  any  one  been  watching  the  camp-fires  of  the 
banished  colonists  that  night,  the  last  idea  that 
would  have  entered  the  observer's  mind  would  have 
been  that  of  suffering  or  distress. 

The  night  was  brilliantly  fine,  and  just  cold 
enough  to  make  the  blazing  fires  agreeable  without 
being  necessary — except,  indeed,  as  a  means  of  cook- 
ing food.  The  light  of  these  fires,  shining  through 
the  green,  yellow,  and  golden  foliage,  and  illuminat- 
ing the  sunburnt  faces  of  men,  women,  and  children, 
gave  to  the  scene  a  strain  of  the  free,  the  wild,  and 
the  romantic,  which  harmonised  well  with  the  gypsy- 
like appearance  of  the  people,  and  formed  a  ruddy 
contrast  to  the  pure  cold  light  of  the  innumerable 
stars  overhead,  which,  with  their  blue- black  setting, 
were  reflected  in  the  neighbouring  lake. 

Over  every  fire  pots  and  kettles  were  suspended 
from  tripods,  or  rested  on  the  half-burned  logs, 
while  impaled  wild-fowl  roasted  in  front  of  it. 
Food  being  in  great  abundance,  hearts  were  light 


> 

m 

Z 

a 

t 

3 

)■ 

'jJ 
.J 

M 
t« 

i 


il!i 


i!i 


m!^ 


lii'H 


liiii'iii 


iijii 


liilililM! 


118 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


in  spite  of  other  adverse  cirumstances,  and  men  and 
women,  forgetting  to  some  extent  the  sufferings  of 
the  past  and  the  dark  piospects  of  the  future, 
appeared  to  abandon  themselves  to  the  enjoyment 
of  the  present. 

The  children,  of  course,  were  full  of  glee,  and  not 
altogether  empty  of  mischief;  and  there  were  fortu- 
nately no  infants  of  age  so  tender  as  to  induce 
a  squalling  protest  against  the  discomforts  of  a 
situation  which  could  be  neither  understood  nor 
appreci-  L^id. 

"  It  i  ;s  a  pieesant  night,  whatever,"  remarked  old 
M'Kay,  lighting  his  pipe  with  a  brand  plucked  from 
the  fire  which  his  family  and  the  Davidsons  shared 
in  common ;  "  a:i'  if  it  wass  always  like  this,  it  iss 
myself  that  would  not  object  to  be  a  rud  savitch." 

"  I  don't  know  that  a  rud  savitch  is  much  worse 
than  a  white  wan,"  growled  Duncan  junior,  in  an 
under-tone. 

"  What  irs  that  you  say  ? "  demanded  the  old 
man  with  a  look  of  suspicion,  for  his  hearing  was 
imperfect. 

"  Surely  the  water  must  be  boiling  now,  daddy  ? " 
said  Elsple,  by  way  oi  checking  the  conversation. 

"I  don't  know  whuther  it  iss  boilin'  or  not," 
answered  Duncan  senior,  applying  another  brand 
to  his  pipe. 

"Archie,  boy!"  exclaimed  Dan  Davidson,  "you're 
letting  that  goose  roast  to  a  cinder." 


OF  THE  RED  KIVER  PLA.INS. 


119 


"  No,  Dan,  I  'm  not — but  Billy  can't  a-bear  meat 
underdone,  so  it's  better  to  blacken  the  outside 
than  have  the  inside  raw." 

"Who  iss  that  singing?  Wheesht,  boys,"  said 
Fergus  M'Kay,  turning  his  head  a  little  on  one  side 
as  if  to  listen. 

There  was  profound  silence  for  a  few  moments  as 
a  rich  manly  voice  was  heard  to  swell  forth  from 
the  neighbourhood  of  one  of  the  camp-fires. 

"It  comes  from  the  camp  of  the  Switzers,  I 
think,"  said  Elspie  M'Kay. 

"  I  know  it,"  said  Jessie  Davidson,  who  was  seated 
on  a  log  beside  her  friend.  "It  is  Franqois  La 
Certe.  He  came  to  our  meeting-place  in  Ked  Kiver, 
you  know,  just  after  Cuthbert  Grant  and  his  men 
left  us,  and,  hearing  that  we  were  starting  off  to 
Jack  Eiver  again,  he  resolved  to  follow.  I  heard 
him  tell  Slowfoot  to  get  ready  to  go  along  with  us.'* 

"  I  wonder  why  he  came  ? "  said  Mrs.  Davidson, 
coming  out  of  her  tent  at  the  moment,  and  joining 
the  party  round  the  fire. 

"  He  did  not  say,"  answered  Jessie. 

"He  did  not  require  to  say,"  remarked  Duncan 
M'Kay,  with  a  sarcastic  laugh.  "  Every  wan  knows 
that  wherever  there  iss  a  chance  of  gettin*  ammuni- 
tion and  plenty  of  victuals  for  nothing,  there  La  Certe 
iss  certain  to  be  found.  He  knew  that  we  would  be 
sure  to  hev  plenty  at  this  season  o'  the  year,  an' 
that  we  would  not  see  him  an'  his  wife  steive  when 


t 

9 


i 

;3 


120 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


our  kettles  wass  full.  Iss  not  that  so,  Ok^matan  ? 
You  know  him  best." 

Thus  appealed  to,  the  Indian,  whose  usual  expres- 
sion was  one  of  intense  gravity,  shut  his  eyes, 
opened  his  mouth,  displayed  his  superb  teeth,  and 
uttered  a  low  chuckle,  but  made  no  further  reply. 

It  was  enough.  Those  who  understood  Ok^matan 
and  his  ways  were  well  aware  that  ho  thought  La 
Certe  uncommonly  sly. 

The  half-breed  had  indeed  followed  the  expelled 
colonists  in  the  belief  that  they  would  certainly 
possess  plenty  of  powder  and  shot — which  he  had 
not  the  means  of  purchasing.  He  also  knew  that 
the  whole  of  Eupert's  Land  swarmed  with  game  in 
autumn  and  spring,  and  that  the  Scotch  were  an 
open-handed  race  when  approached  in  the  right 
way.  Putting  these  things  together,  he  carefully 
gummed  his  canoe,  put  his  wife  and  child  into 
it — also  some  of  the  provision  which  had  been 
supplied  to  him  by  Duncan  M'Kay  junior — and 
followed  the  settlers  over  Lake  "Winnipeg  to  Jack 
River. 

Here,  finding  that  a  new  party  of  immigrants  had 
arrived,  who  were  necessarily  unacquainted  with  his 
little  peculiarities,  La  Certe  attached  himself  to  them 
and  made  himself  agreeable.  This  he  could  do  very 
well,  for  the  Switzers  understood  his  bad  French,  as 
well  as  his  good  tuneful  voice,  and  appreciated  his 
capacity  for  telling  a  story. 


Ihi 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


121 


"  Did  you  never,"  he  said  to  Andrd  Morel,  after 
his  song  was  finished,  "  hear  of  how  my  old  mother 
saved  her  whole  tribe  from  death  one  time  in  the 
Kocky  Mountains  ? " 

"  Never,"  Morel  replied  with  a  somewhat  sceptical 
but  good-natured  smile. 

"  No !  I  wonder  much,  for  every  one  in  this  land 
heard  about  it,  an'  I  thought  the  news  must  have 
spread  over  Europe  and — and,  perhaps  Africa.  Well, 
I  will  tell  you.    Where  is  my  baccy-bag  ? " 

"Never  mind,  fill  your  pipe  from  mine,"  said 
Morel,  tossing  hinoi  a  little  bag  of  the  coveted  weed. 

"Thank  you..  Well,  you  must  know  that  my 
mother  had  a  beautiful  voice — 0  !  much  more  beau- 
tiful than  mine.  Indeed,  I  do  not  joke,  so  you 
need  not  laugh.  It  was  so  sweet  that  men  were 
always  forced  to  listen  till  she  was  done.  They 
could  not  help  it." 

"  Did  they  ever  want  to  help  it  ? "  asked  Morel 
quietly. 

"  0  yes — as  you  shall  hear.  Well,  one  day  my 
mother  was  living  with  all  our  tribe — I  say  our 
tribe  because  my  mother  was  an  Indian — with  all 
our  tribe,  in  a  great  dark  gorge  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains.  The  braves  had  gone  out  to  hunt  that 
day,  but  my  mother  stayed  behind  with  the  women 
and  children.  I  was  a  little  foolish  child  at  that 
time — too  youn^  to  hunt  or  fight.  My  father — a 
French  Canadian — he  was  dead. 


I 


> 

I 

I 

> 

m 

2 

3 

0 

M 


122 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


111 


■UA^^^^'l 


liiit:^! 


I  !!i 


iiliilill! 


Hi: 


"  We  knew — my  mother  and  I — that  the  braves 
would  be  home  soon.  We  expected  them  every 
minute.  While  we  were  waiting  for  them,  my 
mother  went  into  the  bush  to  pick  berries.  There 
she  discovered  a  war-party  of  our  enemies.  They 
were  preparing  to  attack  our  village,  for  they  knew 
the  men  were  away,  and  they  wanted  the  scalps  of 
the  women  and  children.  But  they  did  not  know 
the  exact  spot  where  our  wigwams  were  pitched, 
and  were  just  going,  after  a  feed,  to  look  for  it. 

"  My  mother  ran  home  with  the  news,  and  im- 
mediately roused  the  camp,  and  made  them  get 
ready  to  fly  to  meet  the  returning  men. 

" '  But,  my  daughter,'  said  an  old  chief,  who  had 
stayed  in  camp,  *  our  enemies  are  young  and  active ; 
they  will  quickly  overtake  us  before  we  meet  our  men.' 

" '  No,'  said  my  mother,  *  I  will  stop  them.  Get 
ready,  and  set  off  quickly.' 

"  She  then  ran  back  on  her  trail — my  mother  was 
a  tremendous  runner — superb  !  She  came  to  a  nar- 
row place  where  our  enemies  would  have  to  pass. 
A  very  thick  tree  grew  there.  She  climbed  it,  and 
liid  among  the  branches.  It  projected  beyond  a 
precipice  and  overhung  a  stream.  Soon  after  that 
she  saw  the  enemy  advancing,  step  by  step,  slowly, 
cautiously,  like  men  who  dread  an  ambush,  and  with 
glances  quick  and  solemn  from  side  to  side,  like  men 
who  see  a  foe  in  every  stump  and  stone." 

La  Certe  paused  at  this  point.    He  was  an  adept 


I         \ 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


123 


lie  braves 
lem  every 
them,  my 
!S.  There 
es.  They 
hey  knevi^ 

scalps  of 
lot  know 

pitched, 
T  it. 

and  im- 
hem  get 

who  had 
i  active ; 
nir  men.' 
m.     Get 

'her  was 
0  a  nar- 
to  pass. 
it,  and 
yond  a 
er  that 
slowly, 
id  with 
^e  men 

adept 


at  story-telling.  His  voice  had  slowed  by  degrees 
and  become  increasingl}'  deep  and  solemn  as  he  pro- 
ceeded. 

"Now,"  continued  he,  in  a  higher  tone,  "my 
mother  did  not  fear  that  they  would  see  her  if  they 
looked  up  when  they  passed  the  tree.  She  was  too 
well  hidden  for  that;  but  she  was  not  sure  what 
the  effect  of  her  voice  would  be,  for  she  had  never 
tried  it  in  that  way  before.  However,  she  was  full 
of  courage.  She  resembled  me  in  that — bold  as 
a  lion !  She  began  to  sing.  Low  and  soft  at  the 
beginning,  like  a  dream  of  song. 

"  At  the  first  note  the  Indians  halted — every  man ; 
each  in  the  position  in  which  he  was  fixed.  If  a 
foot  was  up  he  kept  it  up.  If  both  feet  were  down  he 
left  them  down.  The  feet  that  were  up  came  slowly 
to  the  ground  when  the  Indians  got  tired,  but  no  one 
took  another  step.  My  mother's  voice  was  a  weird 
voice.  It  sounded  as  if  the  place  from  which  it 
came  was  nowhere — or  anywhere — or  everywhere! 
Slowly  the  painted  heads  turned  from  side  to 
side  as  far  as  they  could  go,  and  the  glaring  eyes 
turned  a  little  further.  A  creeping  fear  came  over 
them.  They  trembled.  They  turned  pale.  That 
could  be  easily  seen  through  the  paint.  My  mother 
saw  it !  She  became  more  courageous  and  sang  out 
in  her  most  pathetic  strain.  The  Indians  wept.  That 
was  quit^  visible.  My  mother  saw  it.  Her  great 
object  was  to  delay  the  attack  until  our  men  had  time 


M 

> 

■ 

Z 

3 

Z 

9 

!■ 

yj 
,i 

it 

:3 


124 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


to  arrive.  She  tried  a  war-song,  but  that  was  not  so 
successful.  It  was  too  commonplace.  Besides,  in  her 
energy  she  shook  tl^e  branches,  and  that  drew  atten- 
tion to  thb  tree.  My  niother  thought  that  she  was  in 
danger  then  ;  but  fortune  favoured  her.  It  always 
favours  the  brave.     I  know  thi?  from  experience. 

"  She  had  just  come  to  a  terrific  whoop  in  the 
war-song  when  she  slipped  off  her  branch  and  the 
whoop  increased  to  a  death-yell  as  she  went  crash- 
ing headlong  through  the  branches  and  down  into 
the  stream  at  the  foot  of  the  precipice." 

"  Water !  water !  "  exclaimed  La  Certe  at  this 
point,  holding  out  both  hands.  "  I  can  never  pass 
this  part  of  my  story  without  burning  thirst ! " 

A  mug  of  water  was  handed  him. 

"Poor  fellow — have  some  brandy  in  it,"  said  a 
sympathetic  hearer,  hastily  getting  out  his  bottle. 

La  Certe  held  out  his  mug  impatiently  for  the 
brandy,  drained  the  mug,  and  cleared  his  voice. 

"Was — was  your  mother  killed?"  asked  the 
sympathiser,  earnestly. 

"  Killed  ?  No.  Impossible  !  My  mother  could 
not  be  killed  because  her  destiny  was  not  yet  ful- 
filled. No :  there  was  a  deep  pool  right  under  the 
tree.  She  fell  into  that  with  a  plunge  that  echoed 
from  cliif  to  cliff*.  The  Indians  w^ere  profoundly 
superstitious.  All  Indian;?  are  not  so,  but  these 
Indians  were.  They  waited  not  for  more.  They 
turned  and  fled  as  if  all  the  evil  spirits  in  the  Rocky 


■s:     'UAH 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


125 


Mountains  were  chasing  them.  They  reached  their 
wigwams  breathless,  and  told  their  squaws  that  one 
of  the  spirits  of  a  mountain  stream  had  sat  among 
the  branches  of  a  tree  and  sung  to  them.  It  had 
told  them  that  the  right  time  for  attacking  their 
foes  had  not  yet  come.  Then  it  sang  them  a  war- 
song  descriptive  of  their  final  victory,  and,  just  after 
uttering  a  tremendous  war-whoop,  it  had  dived  back 
into  its  native  stream." 

"  Well  done ! "  exclaimed  an  enthusiastic  Cana- 
dian. 

"But  what  became  of  your  mother?"  asked 
Morel. 

"  Oh !  she  swam  ashore.  My  mother  was  a 
splendid   swimmer.      I   know   it,   for    she   taught 


me. 


>» 


"  Was  it  a  long  swim  ? "  asked  a  sceptical  sailor, 
who  was  one  of  the  emigrants. 

"  How  ? — what  mean  you  ? "  demanded  La  Certe, 
sternly. 

"  I  only  want  to  know  if  she  took  long  to  swim 
ashore  out  o*  that  pool,"  said  the  sceptic,  simply. 

La  Certe  cast  on  him  a  glance  of  suspicion,  and 
replied  that  his  mother  had  found  no  difficulty  in 
getting  out  of  the  pool. 

"  Is  the  old  lady  alive  yet  ? "  asked  the  pertina- 
cious sceptic. 

"  Of  course  not.  She  died  long  long  ago — thirty 
years  ago." 


■  E 
> 


m 

0 


126 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


mic, 


I  i 


"Wliat!  before  you  was  born?  That's  strange, 
isn't  it  ? " 

"No,  but  you  not  understand.  I  suppose  my 
speech  is  not  plain  to  you,.  I  said  three  years 
ago." 

"  Ah !  that 's  more  like  it.  I  only  missed 
what  you  said,"  returned  the  sceptic,  whose  name 
was  Fred  Jenkins,  "  for  I  've  lived  a  while  in 
France,  and  understand  your  lingo  pretty  well. 
Pass  that  goose,  Morel,  if  you  have  left  anything 
on  it.  This  air  o'  the  wilderness  beats  the  air  o' 
the  sea  itself  for  givin'  a  fellow  a  twist." 

The  remarks  of  Jenkins,  while  they  did  not 
absolutely  destroy  the  confidence  of  the  Swiss 
party,  shook  it  enough  to  show  the  wily  half- 
breed  that  he  must  do  something  if  possible  to 
re-establish  his  credit.  He  therefore  volunteered 
another  song,  which  was  gladly  accepted  and  highly 
appreciated;  for,  as  we  have  said,  La  Certe  pos- 
sessed a  really  good  and  tuneful  voice,  and  these 
immigrants  were  a  musical  people. 

While  this  was  going  on  at  the  Swiss  camp-firC; 
an  incident  occurred  at  the  fire  round  which  the 
M'Kay-Davidson  party  was  assembled,  which  de- 
serves particular  notice. 

Old  M'Kay  was  giving  some  directions  to  Fergus; 
Duncan  junior  was  seated  opposite  Dan  Davidson, 
smoking  his  pipe,  and  Elspie  had  gone  into  her  tent, 
when  Slowfoot,  the  spouse  of  La  Certe,  drew  near. 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


127 


"  Come  along,  old  girl,"  exclaimed  M'Kay  senior. 
"It    iss    some    baccy    you   will   be    wantin',   I'll 


wager. 


» 


Slowfoot  did  not  reply  in  words,  but  the  smile 
upon  her  face  was  eloquent. 

"Come  away,  then,"  continued  the  hospitable 
Highlander.  "You  shall  hev  a  pipe  of  it,  what- 
ever." 

He  handed  hex  a  large  plug  of  tobacco,  and 
the  woman,  sitting  down  close  to  young  Duncan, 
produced  her  pipe,  and  drew  out  a  knife  for  the 
purpose  of  cutting  up  the  tobacco. 

"  Hallo ! "  exclaimed  Duncan,  "  where  did  you 
get  hold  o'  my  knife ? " 

He  stopped  abruptly — a  little  confused  in  spite 
of  himself.  For  the  moment  he  had  quite  forgotten 
that  the  knife  had  been  left  in  the  camp  where  he 
had  slain  Perrin,  and  the  sudden  sight  of  it  had 
thrown  him  off  his  guard.  It  was  now  too  late  to 
unsay  the  words,  but  not  too  late  to  mislead  his 
hearers. 

"  I  got  it  from  Marie  Blanc,"  said  Slowfoot  with 
a  look  of  surprise.  "Does  the  knife  belong  to 
Cloudbrow  ? " 

"  I  think  it  does.  I  'm  almost  sure  it  iss  mine. 
Let  me  see  it,"  returned  Duncan,  taking  the  knife 
from  the  woman's  hand,  and  examining  it  with  cool 
and  critical  deliberation. 

"No,"  continued  he,  "it  iss  not  mine,  but  very 


K 
> 

m 


Z 

0 

.J 

13 


% 


128 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


1  ■ 


ilii!:':i':i'!  i 


like  one  that  I  lost — so  like  that  I  felt  sure  at  first 
it  wass  mine." 

Men  who  lie,  usually  overact  their  part.  Duncan 
glanced  suspiciously  at  Dan  to  see  how  he  took  the 
explanation  as  he  returned  the  knife  to  Slowfoot, 
and  Dan  observed  the  glance,  as  being  uncalled  for 
— unnatural — in  the  circumstances. 

Dan  was  by  no  means  of  a  suspicious  nature, 
nevertheless  the  glance  haunted  him  for  many  a 
day  after  that.  Suspicion  once  aroused  is  a  ghost 
which  is  not  easily  laid.  He  tried  to  shake  it  off, 
and  he  carefully,  loyally,  kept  it  confined  in  his 
own  breast ;  but,  do  what  he  would,  he  could  not 
banish  entirely  from  his  mind  that  Duncan  M'Kay 
— the  brother  of  his  Elspie — had  some  sort  of  guilty 
knowledge  of  the  murder  of  poor  Henri  Perrin. 


OF  THE  RED  RlVEll  PLAINS. 


129 


CHAPTER    XIII. 


DIFFICULTIES  OP  VARIOUS  KINDS  OVBRCOMK. 

When  the  bright  warm  days  and  cool  starry 
nights  of  the  Indian  summer  gave  place  to  the  sharp 
days  and  frosty  nights  of  early  winter — when  young 
ice  formed  on  the  lakes  and  rendered  canoeing 
impossible,  and  the  ducks  and  geese  had  fled  to 
warmer  climes,  and  the  Frost  King  had  sent  his  first 
messengers  of  snow  to  cover  the  wilderness  with  a 
winding-sheet  and  herald  his  return  to  the  "Winter 
Palace — then  it  was  that  the  banished  Eed  Eiver 
settlers  began  to  feel  the  pinch  of  poverty  and  to 
understand  the  full  extent  of  the  calamity  that  had 
befallen  them. 

We  have  not  space  to  follow  them  through  all  the 
details  of  that  winter  at  Jack  River.  Some  died,  all 
suffered  more  or  less ;  but  they  had  to  endure  it,  for 
escape  from  the  country  to  the  civilised  world  was 
even  more  difficult  and  hopeless  than  escape  from 
the  dreaded  wilds  of  Siberia.  The  men  hunted,  fished 
under  the  ice,  trapped,  and  sustained  themselves 
and  their  families  in  life  during  the  long,  dreary 

I 


'A 

K 

> 

a 
z 

Q 

H 

yj 

■  > 

'A 


130 


THE  BUFFALO  liUiNNKUS  :  A  TALE 


i 


I 
I 


winter;  the  only  gain  being  that  tliey  became  more 
or  less  expert  at  the  Ked-inan's  work  and  ways  of 
life. 

Only  two  of  the  Indians  remained  with  them  to 
help  them  over  their  difficulties — namely,  Ok(5matan 
and  Kateegoose,  with  their  respective  squaws.  These 
last  were  invaluable  as  the  makers  of  moccasins 
and  duffle  socks  and  leathern  coats,  w^ithout  which 
existence  in  such  a  climate  would  have  been  im- 
possible. They  also  imparted  their  knowledge  in 
such  matters  to  the  squaws  of  the  white  men. 

There  was  one  friend,  however,  who  did  not  re- 
main with  the  settlers  when  things  began  to  look 
dismal  around  them.  This  was  the  amiable,  musi- 
cal story-telling  La  Certe.  That  tender-hearted  man 
could  not  endure  the  sight  of  human  distress.  If 
he  could  not  relieve  it,  he  felt  constrained  to  shut 
his  eyes  to  it  and  to  flee  from  it.  At  the  first  in- 
dication of  the  approach  of  winter  he  had  come 
to  old  M'Kay  with  that  peculiarly  mild,  humble, 
deprecatory  expression  of  countenance  with  which 
he  was  wont  to  preface  an  appeal  for  assistance  of 
some  sort. 

"  What  iss  it  you  will  be  wantin'  now  ?"  demanded 
the  old  man,  rather  testily,  for  he  had  an  aversion  to 
the  half-breed's  sneaking  ways.  "  Surely  you  will 
not  be  wantin'  more  powder  an'  shot  efter  the  supply 
I  gave  you  last  week  ? " 

0  no !  nothing  could  be  further  from  the  mind 


:!ll 


:lli 


OF  THE  KKD  KIVEU  PLAINS. 


131 


of  La  Certe.  lie  had  plenty  of  aininuiiiLion  and 
provisions,  lie  had  only  come  to  say  that  he  was 
going  back  to — to — lied  lliver." 

"Weel,  weel,"  returned  the  Highlander,  "there 
is  no  call  for  hesitation,  man  in  telliu*  mo  that.  I 
will  not  be  breakin'  my  heart  when  ye  are  gone.  I 
suppose  that  now  ye  hev  got  the  best  the  season  can 
supply,  ye  think  the  comforts  o'  the  Settlement 
will  be  more  to  your  taste." 

The  remonstrative  expression  on  La  Certe's  face 
deepened.  The  idea  of  his  own  taste  or  comfort  had 
not  once  entered  his  head :  but  he  had  a  wife  and 
child  whom  he  was  bound  to  consider,  and  lie  had 
a  hut — a  home — iu  lied  Eiver  which  he  felt  con- 
strained to  look  after.  Besides,  he  had  social  duties 
of  many  kinds  which  claimed  attention. 

"  I  Ve  no  doubt  ye  hev,"  said  M'Kay,  with  a  shore 
sarcastic  laugh,  "  an'  ye  will  attend  to  them  too — 
I  '11  be  bound.  But  ye  did  not  come  here,  I  sup- 
pose, to  take  a  tender  farewell  o'  me.  What  iss  it 
you  will  be  wantin  ?    Oot  wi'  it,  man ! " 

"  There  is  a  canoe "  said  La  Certe,  with  some 

hesitation. 

"  There  iss  many  a  canoe ! "  returned  M'Kay  with 
a  peculiar  grin. 

"  True,  but  there  is  one  on  the  shore  now,  close  to 
the  flat  rock  which " 

"  My  own  canoe ! "  interrupted  the  other,  "  what 
will  ye  be  wantin'  wi'  that  ? " 


'A 

K 

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2 

m 

0 

iiJ 
.J 

13 


*-- 


132 


TIIR  lUTFFALO  HUNNKHS:    A  TALK 


La  Corto  did  not  wisli  to  appear  jT^rccdy,  but  tlio 
season  was  late,  and  his  own  canoe  was  not  in  a  very 
lit  condition  to  carry  a  family  round  the  shores  of  a 
lake  so  largo  as  Lake  Winnipeg.  Would  the  white 
father  lend  his  canoe  to  him  ?  It  could  not  bo  wanted 
much  longer  that  Fall,  and  the  one  he  would  leave 
behind  him  was  an  excellent  canoe  for  ordinary  tish- 
ing  and  hunting  purposes.  He  would  be  quite  will- 
ing to  hire  the  canoe  or  to  pay  the  full  price  for  it 
if  any  accident  should  happen  to  it. 

"  No,"  said  M'Kay,  firmly.  "  No,  La  Certe ;  your 
hiring  means  borrowing,  and  your  payin'  means 
owin'  a  debt  for  the  remainder  o*  your  natural  life. 
I  will  see  you  at  the  bottom  o'  Lake  Winnipeg  before 
1  will  be  lending  you  my  canoe." 

La  Certe  smiled  sadly,  and  gazed  at  the  cap  with 
which  his  hands  played,  as  if  appealing  to  it  for 
sympathy. 

With  an  aspect  of  the  profoundest  resignation  he 
made  his  bow  and  left  the  Presence. 

But  La  Certe  was  not  in  the  least  put  out  by  this 
failure.  He  went  to  his  tent,  and  recounted  the  in- 
terview to  his  squaw,  who,  when  he  entered,  w^as  in 
the  act  of  giving  her  child,  a  creature  of  about  four 
years  of  age,  one  or  tw^o  draws  of  her  pipe,  to  let  it 
taste  how  nice  it  was. 

Smoking  in  calm  placidity,  the  amiable  pair  dis- 
cussed the  subject.  The  conclusion  they  came  to 
was,  as  usual,  harmonious. 


OP  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


133 


*'  I  think  ho  will  agree  to  lend  it  next  time  I  go 
to  him,"  said  La  Certe,  hopefully. 

"  He  will  give  in,"  replied  Slowfoot,  decidedly. 

The  four-year-old  could  not  understand  the  subject, 
and  mado  no  comment ;  but  it  howled  for  another 
smoke,  and  got  it. 

La  Certe  was  wrong,  and  his  wife  was  right — as 
usual.  Old  M'Kay  did  not  agree  to  "  lend  "  his 
canoe  the  "  next  time,"  or  the  next  again,  but  he  did 
"  give  in  "  at  last,  more,  perhaps,  to  get  rid  of  thu 
half-breed's  'mportunity  than  because  of  good-will, 
and  sold  the  canoe  to  him — on  credit. 

When  that  winter  was  over,  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Company  again  encouraged  the  settlers  to  return, 
under  promise  of  protection,  and  the  spring  found 
the  persevering  people,  in  spite  of  all  difficulties  and 
previous  failures,  busy  putting  into  the  ground  what 
little  seed  they  possessed,  and  otherwise  cultivating 
the  soil. 

Some  of  them  there  were,  however,  who,  after 
lending  a  hand  in  this  work,  determined  to  provide 
second  strings  to  their  bows  by  following  the  buffalo 
hunters  to  the  plains.  These  were  chiefly  the  young 
and  strong  men,  such  as  Dan  Davidson  and  his 
brother  Peter,  Fergus  M'Kay,  Antoine  Decliamp, 
and  Jacques  Bourassin,  among  many  others. 

La  Certe  also  went,  as  well  as  his  squaw  and  the 
four-year-old.  He  managed  the  thing  characteris- 
tically thus. 


'A 


2 

3 

'■ii 
.J 

iti 


134 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


( < 


When  the  half-breeds  were  making  preparations 
for  their  spring  hunt,  he  paid  a  visit  to  Duncan 
M'Kay,  who  was  busy  at  the  time  helping  his  father 
and  brother  to  rebuild  their  house.  Indeed  the 
edifice  was  almost  rebuilt,  for  the  erection  of  small 
wooden  houses  does  not  usually  take  long. 

"  You  've  come  to  beg,  borrow,  or  steal,  no  doubt," 
said  Cloudbrcw,  who  was  worthy  of  his  nickname* 
for  he  was  as  short  of  temper  as  Duncan  senior. 

No,  La  Certe  had  come  to  do  none  of  these  things, 
he  said,  with  a  conciliatory  smile. 

"  Well,  then,  you  can't  have  come  to  buy  or  to  ask 
advances,"  growled  Duncan ;  "  for  you  see  that  our 
store  and  all  we  possessed  has  been  burnt  by  your 
precious  countrymen." 

La  Certe  knew  this,  and  professed  himself  pro- 
foundly grieved  as  well  as  indignant  with  his 
countrymen.  No,  he  did  not  come  to  buy  or  to 
borrow,  but  to  hire.  The  M'Kays  had  still  some 
horses  left,  and  carts.  Could  they  not  spare  a  horse 
and  cart  to  him  on  hire  ? 

"  No,  we  can  do  nothing  of  the  sort,"  said  Duncan 
shortly,  resuming  his  axe  and  work.  "  You  can  go 
to  the  Company.  Perhaps  they  will  trust  you — 
though  they  are  fools  if  they  do." 

La  Certe  was  regretful,  but  not  cast  down.  He 
changed  the  subject,  commented  on  the  building 
that  was  going  on,  the  prospects  of  a  good  harvest, 
and  finally  took  refuge  in  that  stale  old  subject,  the 


h        ::il|!' 


OF  THE  RED  PJVER  PLAINS. 


135 


rations 

>uncan 

father 

W  the 

small 

oubt," 
name* 
)r. 
ihings, 

to  ask 
it  our 
f^your 

f  pro- 
h  his 
or  to 
some 
horse 

mean 
in  go 
ou — 

He 

ding 
vest, 
,  tlie 


weather.  Then  he  said  in  a  casual  way — as  if  it 
liad  just  occurred  to  him — "  By  the  way — that  knife 
that  my  wife  got  from  Marie  Blanc " 

Young  M'Kay  stopped,  and  looked  quickly  up  for 
a  moment,  with  a  slight  flush,  but  instantly  resumed 
work. 

"  Well,"  he  said,  quietly,  "  what  about  the  knife  ?" 

"  Would  you  like  to  have  it — my  wife  bade  me 
inquire  ? " 

"  Why  should  1  like  to  have  it  ? "  he  asked  care- 
lessly, 

"  Oh  !  I  thought  it  was  yours,"  said  La  Certe. 

"You  are  mistaken.  I  said  it  was  very  like 
mine.  But  it  is  not  mine — and  I  have  no  wish  for 
what  does  not  belong  to  me." 

"  Of  course  not.  Well,  I  must  be  going,"  said  the 
half-breed,  preparing  to  leave.  "  I  wished  much  to 
have  your  horse  and  cart,  for  they  are  both  good, 
and  I  would  offer  you  £4  for  the  trip,  which,  you 
know,  is  double  the  usual  charge,  for  I  never  grudge 
a  good  price  for  a  good  thing." 

"Yes,  all  the  more  when  you  hev  no  intention 
to  pay  it,"  said  M'Kay  with  a  laugh.  "  However, 
since  you  seem  so  anxious,  and  offer  so  good  a  price, 
I  am  willing  to  oblige  you  this  time,  in  the  hope 
that  you  are  really  becoming  an  honest  man!" 

Tlie  half-breed  was  profuse  in  his  thanks,  and 
in  his  assurance  that  Cloudbrow's  hopes  would  cer- 
tainly not  be  disappointed. 


J? 

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!'  ir* 


136 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


Having  thus  attained  his  chief  object,  our  arch- 
beggar  went  off  to  obtain  provisions.  Those  which 
had  been  supplied  him  the  previous  autumn  by 
young  M'Kay  had  been  quite  consumed  by  him- 
self and  his  friends — for  the  man,  you  see,  had  a 
liberal  heart  and  hand. 

But  his  first  attempts  were  unsuccessful.  He 
wanted  ammunition.  To  go  to  the  plains  without 
ammunition  was  obviously  useless.  He  wanted  food 
— sugar,  tea,  flour,  pork.  To  go  to  the  plains  with- 
out these  would  be  dreary  work.  But  men  knew 
La  Carte's  character,  and  refused  him.  One  after 
another  he  tried  his  friends.  Then  he  tried  them 
again.  Then  he  tried  comparative  strangers.  He 
could  not  try  his  enemies,  for,  strange  to  say,  he  had 
none.    Then  he  went  over  them  all  again. 

At  last,  by  indomitable  perseverance,  he  managed 
to  wear  out  the  patience  of  one  of  his  friends,  who 
believed  in  the  restoration  of  the  incorrigible,  and 
he  found  himself  fully  equipped  to  take  the  field 
with  his  hard-working  comrades. 

It  may  be  remarked  here  that  the  buffalo  runners 
generally  went  on  the  credit  system,  trusting  to  a 
successful  hunt  to  pay  off  their  debts,  and  leave 
them  supplied  with  food  for  the  winter.  But,  then, 
most  of  these  men  were  in  earnest,  and  meant 
to  pay  off  their  debts  loyally.  Whereas  La  Certe 
— good,  humorous,  easy-going  man — had  not  the 
slightest  intention  of  paying  his  debts  at  all ! 


OF  THE  BED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


137 


CHAPTEK    XIV. 


TREACHERY  IN  THE  AIR. 


At  this  time  the  half-breeds  of  the  colony  of  Eed 
River  formed  a  small  party  compared  with  the 
numbers  to  which  they  multiplied  in  after  years, 
and  the  band  of  hunters  who  annually  went  to  the 
plains  to  chase  the  buffalo  was  propo^'tionally  small. 
Nevertheless,  they  were  numerous  enough  to  con- 
stitute a  formidable  band,  capable  of  holding  their 
own,  when  united,  against  any  band  of  wandering 
Indians  who  might  feel  disposed  to  attack  them. 
They  were  a  brave,  hardy  race  of  men,  but  of 
course  there  were  some  black  sheep  among  them 
like  La  Certe. 

About  sixty  or  a  hundred  miles  from  the  Settle- 
ment, the  party,  under  command  of  Antoine  De- 
champ,  found  the  buffalo,  and  preparations  were 
at  once  made  to  attack  them.  It  was  dusk,  how- 
ever, when  the  herds  were  discovered,  so  that  the 
hunt  had  to  be  postponed  to  the  following  day. 

A  small  clump  of  bushes  afforded  wood  enough 
for  camp-fires.  The  carts  were  ranged  in  a  circle 
with  the  trams  outward.     Sentries  were  posted ;  the 


5/5 

u 
> 


a 


4i 


138 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


horses  were  secured ;  the  kettles  put  on ;  pipes 
lighted ;  and  noise,  laughter,  song  and  story,  mir ',led 
tvith  the  shrill  voices  of  children,  were  heard  far  on 
into  the  night. 

Among  the  children,  if  we  may  venture  so  to 
class  them,  were  Archie  and  Billie  Sinclair — tliough 
we  suspect  that  Archie  would  have  claimed,  and 
with  some  reason,  to  be  classed  with  the  men. 
They  belonged  to  the  camp-fire,  which  formed  a 
centre  to  the  party  composed  of  Dan  and  Peter, 
Fergus,  Dechamp,  and  Fred  Jenkins  the  sailor. 
The  latter,  who  it  was  thought  had  come  out  to  the 
country  by  way  of  a  skylark  rather  than  as  a 
settler,  had  followed  the  hunters,  bent,  he  said,  on 
firing  a  broadside  into  a  buffalo.  He  had  brought 
with  him  a  blunderbuss,  which  he  averred  had 
been  used  by  his  great-grandfather  at  the  battle  of 
Culloden.  It  was  a  formidable  old  weapon,  capable 
of  swallowing,  at  one  gulp,  several  of  the  bullets 
which  fitted  the  trading  guns  of  the  country.  Its 
powers  of  scattering  ordinary  shot  in  large  quan- 
tity had  proved  to  be  very  effective,  and  had  done 
such  execution  among  flocks  of  wild-fowl,  that  the 
Indians  and  half-breeds,  although  at  first  inclined  to 
laugh  at  it,  were  ultimately  filled  with  respect. 

"I  doubt  its  capacity  for  sending  ball  straight, 
however,"  remarked  Dan  to  Jenkins,  who  vis  care- 
fully cleaning  out  the  piece,  "  especially  if  charged 
with  more  than  one  ball." 


OF  THE  RED  RIVEIl  PLAINS. 


139 


pipes 
ir-led 
far  on 

so  to 
hough 
d,  and 

men. 
ned  a 
Peter, 
sailor, 
to  the 

as  a 
lid,  on 
rought 
i  had 
ttle  of 
ipable 
•ullets 
.     Its 
g^iian- 
done 
it  the 
ed  to 

liglit, 
care- 
irged 


"  No  fear  of  it,"  returned  the  sailor,  with  a  confi- 
dent air.  "Of  course  it  scattered  the  balls  about 
six  yards  apart  the  only  time  I  tried  it  with  a  lot 
of  'em,  but  that  was  at  fifty  yards  off,  an'  they  tell 
me  that  you  a'most  ram  the  muzzle  against  the 
brutes'  sides  when  chasin'  buffalo.  So  there 's  no 
room  to  scatter,  dee  see,  till  they  get  inside  their 
bodies,  and  when  there  it  don't  matter  how  much 
they  scatter." 

"  It 's  well  named  a  young  cannon  by  La  Certe," 
said  Peter  Davidson,  who,  like  the  seaman,  was  out 
on  his  first  buffalo  hunt.  "  I  never  heard  such  a 
roar  as  it  gave  that  time  you  brought  down  ten  out 
of  one  flock  of  ducks  on  the  way  up  here." 

"  Ay,  Peter,  she  barked  well  that  time,"  remarked 
the  sailor,  with  a  grin,  "but,  then  there  was  a 
reason.     I  had  double-shotted  her  by  mistake." 

*An*  ye  did  it  too  without  an  aim,  for  you  had 
both  eyes  tight  shut  at  the  time,"  remarked  Fergus. 
"  Iss  that  the  way  they  teach  ye  to  shoot  at  sea  ? " 

"In  course  it  is,"  replied  Jenkins,  gravely. 
"  That 's  the  beauty  o'  the  blunderbuss.  There 's  no 
chance  o'  missin',  so  what  'ud  be  the  use  o'  keepin' 
yer  eyes  open,  excep'  to  get  'em  filled  wi'  smoke. 
You  've  on'y  got  to  point  straight,  an'  blaze  away." 

"  I  did  not  know  that  you  use  the  blunderbuss 
in  your  ships  at  all,"  said  Decliamp,  with  a  look  of 
assumed  simplicity. 

"  Ho  yes,  they  do,"  said  Jenkins,  squinting  down 


^ 
If, 

> 


mfm 

0 

UJ 

•  >« 

l< 


1 


140 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


the  bell-mouthed  barrel,  as  if  to  see  that  the  touch- 
hole  was  clear.  "  Aboard  o'  one  man-o'-war  that  T 
sailed  in  after  pirates  in  the  China  seas,  we  had  a 
blunderbuss  company.  The  first-lef tenant,  who  was 
thought  to  be  queer  in  his  head,  he  got  it  up. 

"  The  first  time  the  company  was  ranged  along  the 
deck  he  gave  the  order  to  load  with  ball  cartridges. 
There  was  twenty-six  of  us,  all  told. 

" '  We  've  got  no  cartridges  for  'em,  sir,'  whispered 
the  man  nearest  him. 

" '  If  you  don't  obey  orders,'  growled  the  leftenant 
'tween  his  teeth,  *  I  '11  have  ye  strung  up  for  mutiny 
every  man  Jack  of  you — load/'  he  repeated  in  a 
kind  of  a  yell. 

"  We  had  our  or'nary  belts  and  pouches  on,  so  we 
out  wi'  the  or'nary  cartridges — some  three,  some 
four, — an',  biting  off  the  ends,  poured  in  the  powder 
somehow,  shoved  in  the  balls  anyhow,  an'  rammed 
the  whole  consarn  down. 

"  '  Present — fire ! '  roared  the  leften:int. 

"  Bang !  went  the  six  an'  twenty  blunderbusses, 
an'  when  the  smoke  cleared  away  there  was  four- 
teen out  o'  the  twenty-six  men  flat  on  their  backs. 
The  rest  o'  us  was  raither  stunned,  but  hearty. 

"  '  Take  these  men  below,'  cried  the  leftenant, '  an' 
send  fourteen  strong  men  here.  We  don't  want 
weaklings  for  this  company.' 

"  After  that  we  loaded  in  moderation,  an'  got  on 
better." 


(    1 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


141 


';|t 


"And  the  pirates — what  did  they  think  o'  the 
new  weapon  ? "  asked  Peter  Davidson,  with  an 
amused  expression. 

"0!  thpy  couldn't  stand  it  at  all,"  answered  the 
sailor,  looking  up  from  his  work,  with  a  solemnity 
that  was  quite  impressive.  "  They  stood  fire  only 
once.  After  that  they  sheered  off  like  wild-cats.  I 
say,  Mistiess  La  Certe,  how  long  is  that  lobscouse 
— or  whatever  you  call  it, — goin'  to  be  in  cookin'  ? " 

Slowfoot  gave  vent  to  a  sweet,  low  giggle,  as  she 
lifted  the  kettle  off  the  hook,  and  thus  gave  a  prac- 
tical answer  to  the  question.  She  placed  before 
him  the  robbiboo,  or  pemmican-soup,  which  the 
seaman  had  so  grievously  misnamed. 

During  the  time  that  the  hunters  were  appeasing 
their  appetites,  it  was  observed  that  Antoine  De- 
champ,  the  leader  of  the  expedition,  was  unusually 
silent  and  thoughtful,  and  that  he  betrayed  a  slight 
look  of  anxiety.  It  therefore  did  not  surprise  Dan 
Davidson,  when  the  supper  was  nearly  ended,  that 
Dechamp  should  rise  and  leave  the  fire  after  giving 
him  a  look  which  was  a  silent  but  obvious  invitation 
to  follow. 

Dan  obeyed  at  once,  and  his  leader,  conducting 
him  between  the  various  camp-fires,  led  him  outside 
the  circle  of  carts. 

A  clear  moon  lit  up  the  prairie  all  round,  so  that 
they  could  see  its  undulating  sweep  in  every 
direction. 


I  .      ^Wf 

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in 

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U2 


TIIK  BUFFALO  IIUNNEKS  :   A  TALE 


"  Anything  wrong,  Antoine  ? "  asked  Dan  in  a 
low  voice,  when  they  were  out  of  earshot  of  the 
camp. 

"  Nothing  wrong,  Dan." 

"Surety,"  continued  the  other,  while  Dechamp 
paused  as  if  in  perplexity,  "  surely  there  can  be  no 
chance  of  lled-slvins  troubling  us  on  a  clear  night 
like  this.  I  can  distinguish  every  bush  for  miles 
around." 

"  There  is  no  fear  o'  Ked-skins.  No,  I  am  not 
troubled  about  them.  It  is  matters  concerning 
yourself  that  trouble  me." 

"  How 's  that  ?    "What  do  you  mean,  Antoine  ? " 

"Is  your  brother-in-law-to-be,  Luncan  M'Kay, 
coming  to  join  us  this  spring  ? "  asked  Dechamp. 

"  I  believe  he  is — after  he  has  helped  his  father  a 
bit  longer  wi'  the  farm.     Why  do  you  ask  ? " 

"  Well,  to  say  truth,  I  can'^.  give  you  a  very  good 
reason  for  my  bein'  anxious.  Only  I  can't  help 
havin'  my  ears  open,  and  I  've  heard  some  talk 
among  the  lads  that  makes  me  fear  for  the  young 
man.  They  say,  or  hint,  that  he  knows  more  about 
the  murder  o*  poor  Perrin  than  he  chooses  to  tell. 
I've  not  been  ^uite  able  to  find  out  what  makes 
them  suspect  him,  but  they  do  suspect  him,  an'  it 
would  be  well  to  warn  him  not  to  come  here,  for 
you  know  there  are  many  opportunities  to  commit 
murder  on  a  buffalo  hunt ! " 

The  inddent  of  the  knife,  and  of  Duncan  M'Kay's 


OF  TIIK  1:EIJ  KIVEU  PLAINS. 


113 


amp 
no 


significant  glance,  at  once  Hashed  across  Davidson's 
mind,  and  he  felt  a  terrible  sinking  of  the  heart 
when  the  suspicion,  once  before  roused  within  him. 
seemed  now  to  be  confirmed.  He  resolved,  however, 
to  reveal  his  thoughts  to  no  one — specially  not  to 
Elspie. 

"  I  think  it  a  shame,"  he  said,  "  that  men  should 
allow  such  rumours  to  circulate,  when  nothing  cer- 
tain has  arisen  to  rouse  suspicion.  That  affair  of 
the  knife  was  clearly  explained  when  young  M'Kay 
declared  that  it  was  not  his,  though  it  looked  like 
it.  If  he  knew  anything  about  the  murder,  would 
he  not  have  been  certain  to  have  told  us  long  ago  ? 
And,  surely,  you  cannot  suppose  that  Duncan  killed 
Perrin  with  his  own  hand  ?  Speak,  Dechamp!  Why 
do  you  shake  your  head  ? " 

"  I  know  nothing,"  returned  the  leader.  "  What 
right  have  I  to  suppose  any  "  ''ng  ?  I  only  know  that 
men's  deeds  are  often  mysterious  and  unaccountable, 
and  that  our  men  have  strong  suspicion.  For  myself, 
I  have  no  opinion.  Duncan  M'Kay  is  probably  in- 
nocent, for  he  and  Perrin  were  not  enemies.  I  hope 
he  is  so,  but  I  advise  you  to  stop  his  coming  to  the 
camp  just  now  if  you  can.  His  life  may  depend 
on  it." 

"  I  cannot  stop  him,"  returned  Dan,  with  a  per- 
plexed look.  "  He  is  headstrong,  as  you  know,  and 
if  he  has  made  up  his  mind  to  come,  nothing  will 
stop  him." 


> 

3 

0 


144 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


"  Perhaps  if  he  knew  his  life  would  be  in  danger 
— that  might  stop  him." 

"  I  doubt  it ;  but  I  will  give  him  the  chance.  I 
will  ride  back  to  Eed  Kiver  without  delay,  and  warn 
him." 

"  Good.    When  will  you  start  ?  " 

"  To-night.  The  moon  is  clear  and  will  not  set 
till  morning.  I  shall  be  well  on  my  way  by  that 
time." 

"  Will  you  ride  alone  ? " 

"  No,  there  may  be  bad  Indians  about.  I  will 
ask  Ok^matan  or  Fergus  M'Kay  to  ride  with  me. 
Why  did  you  not  speak  to  Fergus  instead  of  to 
me?" 

**  Because  he  has  not  been  spoken  to  by  any  one," 
answered  Dechamp ;  "  and  I  would  not  be  the  first 
to  put  suspicion  into -his  head  about  his  own  brother. 
Besides,  your  head  is  clearer  ;  and  your  interest  in 
Duncan,  for  Elspie's  sake,  is  greater  than  his,  no 
doubt." 

"  Well,  you  may  be  right,  Antoine.  At  all  events 
if  I  take  Fergus  with  me  I  shall  send  him  back 
before  reaching  the  Settlement,  and  say  nothing 
whatever  about  my  reason  for  going  there.  *  Press- 
ing business,'  you  know,  will  be  sufficient." 

"  I  'm  not  so  sure  of  that,"  returned  Dechamp 
with  a  laugh.  "  Men  are  apt  to  want  to  know  the 
nature  of '  pressing  business.'  However,  it  may  be 
as  well  to  take  Fergus.     At  any  rate  you  cannot 


OF  THE  RED  RIVEK  PLAINS. 


145 


danger 

nee.     I 
d  warn 


lot  set 
ly  that 


I  will 

;h  me. 

of  to 

'  one," 
e  first 
•other. 
3st  in 
is,  no 

svents 

bask 

thing 

i^ress- 

iiamp 
V  the 
\y  be 
innot 


have  Okdmatan,  for  he  is  not  in  camp.  He  left 
soon  after  we  pitched,  and  I  know  has  not  yet 
returned." 

"  It  matters  not.  Fergus  will  do  better.  He  is 
more  companionable." 

Returning  to  camp,  Dan  Davidson  made  the 
proposal  to  Fergus  M'Kay.  That  worthy  was,  as 
he  said,  ready  for  anything,  and  the  two  were  soon 
mounted.  They  were  also  well  armed,  for  the  risk 
of  meeting  a  party  of  hostile  Indians  was  not 
altogether  out  of  the  question,  though  improbable. 
Each  horseman  carried  his  blanket  and  provision 
wallet,  his  gun,  a  long  knife  almost  equal  to  an 
ancient  Roman  sword,  and  a  cavalry  pistol — re- 
volvers not  having  been  invented  at  that  time : 
at  least  they  had  not  come  into  general  use.  Thus 
provided  for  all  contingencies,  they  set  forth. 

As  we  have  said,  the  night  was  clear  and  fine,  so 
that  the  plains  were  open  to  view  in  all  directions, 
save  where  a  few  scattered  clumps  of  willows  and 
small  trees  grew  like  islets  in  the  ocean. 

"  It  iss  this  that  I  like  better  than  farming,"  said 
Fergus,  as  the  fresh  horses  carried  them  swiftly  and 
lightly  over  the  prairie  waves,  and  down  into  the 
grassy  hollows,  now  swerving  to  avoid  a  badger- 
hole,  or  clearing  a  small  shrub  with  a  little  bound. 
"  I  do  think  that  man  wass  intended  to  live  in  the 
wilderness,  an'  not  to  coop  himself  up  in  the  cities 
like  rabbits  in  their  holes." 

K 


K 
> 

m 

t 

3 

it 


i 


I 


146 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


"Why,  Fergus,  you  should  have  been  born  a 
savage,"  said  Dan. 

"Ay,  it  iss  savitch  I  am  that  I  wass  not  born 
a  savitch,"  returned  Fergus  with  a  grim  smile. 
"  What  in  all  the  world  iss  the  use  of  ceevilisation 
if  it  will  not  make  people  happy  ?  A  man  wants 
nothing  more  than  a  goot  supper  an'  a  goot  bed,  an' 
a  goot  shelter  over  him,  an'  it  iss  not  five  hunderd 
pound  a  year  that  we  will  want  to  buy  that — what- 


ever. 

"  But  surely  man  wants  a  little  more  than  that, 
Fergus.  He  wants  breakfast  and  dinner  usually,  as 
well  as  supper,  and  a  few  comforts  besides,  such 
as  tea  and  sugar — at  least  the  women  do — besides 
pipes  an'  baccy — to  say  nothing  of  books." 

"  Oo  ay,  I  will  not  be  denyin'  that.  But  we  've 
no  need  for  wan  half  the  luxuries  o'  ceevilisation. 
An'  ye  know  ferry  weel,  Tan,  that  my  sister  Elspie 
would  be  content  to  live  wi'  you  in  a  ferry  small 
hoose,  and  the  bare  necessaries  of  life,  but  here  you 
are  forced  to  put  off  the  merritch  because  our  hooses 
wass  burnt,  and  you  are  obleeged  to  wait  till  you 
get  a  sort  o'  palace  built,  I  suppose,  and  a  grand 
farm  set  agoin'." 

"  Indeed,  Fergus,  you  touch  me  on  a  sore  point 
there,  but  with  all  your  scorn  of  luxury,  T  *m  sure 
you'd  be  the  last  man  to  let  his  sister  marry  a 
fellow  who  could  take  her  only  to  a  hut  or  a  wig- 


wam, 


>> 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


147 


Wig. 


"  You  are  right,  Tan.  Yet  I  liev  spent  many  a 
comfortable  nidit  in  a  hut  an'  a  wicjwam  since  I 
came  to  Red  Eiver.  I  wish  the  place  wass  more 
peaceable." 

"  It  will  never  be  more  peaceable  as  long  as  there 
are  two  rival  companies  fighting  for  the  furs," 
said  Davidson  ;  "  but  there  's  worse  than  that  goin' 
on,  for  some  of  the  Indians,  it  seems,  are  mad  at 
the  agreement  nuide  between  them  and  Lord  Sel- 
kirk." 

"  Wow !  that  iss  a  peety.  Where  heard  ye 
that  ? " 

"  1  heard  it  from  La  Certe,  whose  wife  Slowfoot, 
you  know,  is  a  Crec  Indian.  It  seems  that  the 
Crees  have  always  claimed  Eed  River  as  their 
lands  ;  but  when  Lord  Selkirk  came  to  make  a 
treaty  with  the  natives  he  found  some  Saulteaux 
livin'  on  the  soil,  an'  his  lordship,  in  ignorance, 
gave  them  an  interest  in  the  treaty,  though  they 
were  mere  visitors — an'  indeed  don't  even  claim  to 
be  owners  of  the  soil — their  lands  lying  far  to  the 
east  of  Red  River." 

"  Well,"  continued  Dan,  guiding  his  horse  care- 
fully down  the  next  hollow,  for  the  moon  had  gone 
behind  a  cloud  just  then,  "  when  tlie  Crees  found 
out  what  had  been  done,  they  were  naturally  very 
angry — an'  I  don't  wonder — an'  tbey  threaten  now 
to  expel  the  Saulteaux  from  Red  River  altogether, 
an'   the   white   men    alonn  wi'   them,   unless    the 


life 

;> 

y 


0 

!■ 
J 

lit 


148 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


names  of  the  Saulteaux  chiefs  are  wiped  out  o' 
the  contract,  an'  the  annual  payment  made  to  the 
Crees  alone." 

"  That  iss  had,  Taniel,  ferry  bad,"  said  Fergus,  as 
they  reached  the  bottom  of  the  hollow  and  began 
to  ascend  the  succeeding  undulation,  "  an'  I  am  all 
the  more  sorry  to  hear  it  because  our  goot  frund 
Ok^matan  is  a  Cree." 

"  Ay,  Fergus,  he  is  a  great  chief  of  the  Crees,  and 
a  man  of  considerable  influence  among  his  people. 
I  should  not  like  to  have  him  for  an  enemy." 

"  Stop  ! "  said  Fergus  in  a  whisper  at  that  mo- 
ment, laying  his  hand  on  Davidson's  arm. 

Dan  drew  rein  at  once  and  looked  at  his  friend, 
but  could  not  clearly  see  his  face,  for  the  moon  was 
still  behind  thick  drifting  clouds. 

They  had  just  riren  high  enough  on  the  prairie 
wave,  which  they  had  been  ascending,  to  be  able 
to  see  over  it,  and  Dan  could  perceive  by  the  out- 
stretched neck  of  his  companion  that  he  was  gazing 
intently  at  something  directly  in  front. 

"  What  do  you  see,  Fergus  ? "  he  asked  in  a  low 
voice. 

"  Do  you  see  nothin',  Taniel  ? "  was  the  High- 
lander's reply. 

"  Why,  yes,  I  see  the  plains  stretching  away  to 
the  horizon— an'  dark  enough  they  a^-e,  too,  at  this 
moment.  I  also  see  a  few  small  clumps  that  look 
like  bushes  here  an'  there." 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


149 


"  Don't  you  see  the  clump  that 's  nearest  to  you 
— right  foment  your  nose  ?  "  said  the  other. 

"  Of  coarse  I  do,  and ." 

He  stopped  abruptly,  for  at  that  moment  he  saw 
a  spark  in  the  clump  referred  to — a  spark  so  small 
that  it  might  have  been  taken  for  a  glow-worm,  had 
such  a  creature  existed  there. 

"  Savitches ! "  whispered  the  Highlander.  "  Let 's 
get  into  the  hollow  as  fast  as  we  can." 

This  retrograde  movement  was  soon  effected,  and 
the  friends  dismounted. 

"Now,  Fergus,  what's  the  best  thing  to  be 
done  ? " 

"  I  will  be  leavin'  that  to  you,  Tauiel,  for  you  've 
a  clearer  head  than  mine." 

"We  dare  not  ride  forward,"  said  Dan,  as  if 
communing  with  himself,  "  an'  it  would  be  foolish 
to  make  a  long  detour  to  escape  from  something 
until  we  know  there  is  something  worth  escaping 
from.  My  notion  is  that  we  hobble  or  picket  our 
horses  here,  and  go  cautiously  forward  on  foot  to 
see  what  it  is." 

"You'll  be  doin'  what  ye  think  best.  Captain 
Taniel,  an'  you  will  find  that  private  Fergus  will 
back  you  up — whatever." 

This  being  settled,  the  two  men  picketed  their 
steeds  in  the  hollow,  fastened  their  guns  to  the 
saddles,  as  being  too  cumbrous  for  a  creeping 
advance,  and,  armed  only  with  their  lung  knives 


iii 

;> 

'Z 


7. 

i- 

;3 


150 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


and  pistols,  reascendecl  the  prairie  wave.  With 
feet  clothed  in  soft  moccasin,  and  practised  by  that 
time  in  the  art  of  stealthy  tread,  they  moved  towards 
the  summit  noiseless  as  gliosts. 

On  gaining  the  ridge  they  sank  slowly  down  into 
the  tall  grass  and  disappeared. 

After  a  prolonged  and  somewhat  painful  creep 
on  hands  and  knees  the  two  men  reached  the  edge 
of  the  clump  of  bushes  already  referred  to. 

Before  reaching  it  they  discovered,  from  the  sound 
of  voices,  that  a  party  of  some  kind  was  encamped 
there ;  but,  of  course,  as  they  knew  not  who,  it 
became  needful  to  proceed  with  extreme  caution. 
When  they  gained  the  edge  of  the  clump,  and 
raised  their  heads  over  a  low  bush-covered  bank,  they 
beheld  a  sight  which  was  not  calculated  to  cheer 
them,  for  there,  in  the  centre  of  the  bush,  en- 
circling a  very  small  fire,  sat  a  war-party  of  about 
fifty  painted  and  befeathered  braves  of  the  Cree 
Indians.  They  were  engaged  in  council  at  the 
moment. 

A  creeping  sensation  about  their  scalps  was  ex- 
perienced by  the  two  eavesdroppers  on  observing 
that  they  had  passed  not  a  hundred  yards  from 
a  sentinel  who  occupied  a  low  knoll  on  their 
left. 

Neither  Dan  nor  Fergus  dared  to  speak — not 
even  to  whisper.  Still  less  did  they  dare  to  move ; 
for  a  few  moments  after  they  reached  the  bank  just 


■ 


m 


■ 


;> 

z 
:3 


'J 
'A 


^ 


EAVKSDROPPERS.— rA(;i;  1.".0 


I 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


151 


referred  to,  the  moon  came  out  from  behind  the 
clouds  and  flooded  the  whole  scene  as  with  the 
light  of  day. 

There  was  nothing  left  for  it,  therefore,  except 
to  lie  still  and  listen.  But  this  gave  tliem  small 
comfort;  for,  although  quite  within  earshot  of  the 
war-party,  the  language  spoken  was  utterly  un- 
intelligible to  either  of  them. 

Their  eyes,  however,  were  not  so  useless  as  their 
ears,  for  they  could  clearly  see  each  warrior  as  he 
rose  to  harangue  his  comrades,  and,  from  the  vin- 
dictive expression  of  their  faces  as  well  as  their 
frequent  pointing  in  the  direction  of  the  buffalo 
hunters  it  w^as  abundantly  evident  that  an  attack 
upon  them  was  being  discussed. 

At  last,  after  many  braves  had  spoken,  a  chief  of 
tall  and  noble  mien  arose.  His  back  was  towards 
the  two  spies,  but  the  moment  they  heard  his  voice 
they  turned  their  heads  and  gazed  at  each  other  in 
speechless  amazement,  for  the  voice  was  quite 
familiar. 

No  word  did  they  dare  to  utter,  but  Fergus  made 
formations  with  his  lips  of  a  most  extravagant 
nature,  which,  however,  clearly  spelt  "  Ok^matan." 
When  he  had  finished,  he  nodded  and  turned  his 
gaze  again  on  the  Crees. 

Both  men  now  understood  that  treachery  was  in 
the  wind,  and  that  a  night  attack  was  highly  pro- 
bable ;  and,  of  course,  they  felt  desperately  anxious 


> 


m 

I/! 

II 

1 

;3 


! 


i 

;3 


162 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


I!         ! 


to  jump  up  and  fly  back  to  the  camp  to  warn  their 
comrades — for  their  only  fear  was  a  surprise.  The 
half-breeds  being  far  more  numerous  than  the 
Indians,  and  well  entrenched,  there  could  be  no 
fear  for  them  if  prepared. 

Just  then,  as  if  to  favour  the'  i,  th^  moon  retired 
behind  a  hug-,  black  cloud. 

Without  a  moment's  hesitation  Jm.!!  began  to 
creep  away  back,  closely  followed  by  Fergus.  They 
gave  a  wide  berth  of  course  to  the  sentinel,  and 
soon  regained  the  hollow  where  the  horses  had  been 
left.     Here  they  breathed  more  freely. 

"  Who  would  have  thought  this  of  Ok^matan  ? " 
muttered  Dan,  as  he  hastily  tightened  his  saddle- 
girths. 

"  The  rascal ! "  exclaimed  Fergus,  in  deep  tones  oi 
indignation. 

"  You  must  gallop  back  to  camp  at  once,  Fergus," 
said  Dan,  as  they  mounted.  "  I  will  go  on  to  Eed 
River  alone." 

"What!  will  you  not  be  coming  with  me?"  asked 
the  Highlander,  in  some  surprise. 

"  There  is  no  need,  for  there  will  be  no  fighting," 
returned  the  other.  "  Our  fellows  far  outnumber 
the  Eed-skins,  and  when  the  latter  find  that  we 
have  been  warned,  and  are  on  our  guard,  they 
won't  attack  us,  depend  on  it.  But  you'll  have 
to  ride  fast,  for  when  such  fellows  make  up  their 
minds  to  strike  thoy  don't  usually  waste  time  in 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


15b 


delivering  the  blow.     My  business  presses,  I  must 
go  on." 

A  minute  later,  and  Dan  Davidson  was  galloping 
towards  the  Settlement  alone,  while  Fergus  made 
the  best  of  his  way  back  to  the  camp  of  the  buffalo 
runners. 


'4 

^3 


•t; 


154 


THE  BUFFALO  KUNNEliS:   A  TALE 


ii 


CHAPTER    XV. 

A  FIIIEND  IN  NEED  IS  A   FRIEND  INDEED. 

Whether  or  not  Okdmatan  was  as  thorough  a 
rascal  as  Fergus  M'Kay  thought  him  will  be  best 
shown  by  harking  back,  and  setting  down  a  little 
of  what  was  said  by  some  of  the  Cree  braves  at  the 
time  that  Fergus  and  Dan  were  eavesdropping. 

Standing  in  a  dignified  attitude  worthy  of  an 
ancient  Roman,  with  his  blanket  thrown  toga-fashion 
over  one  shoulder,  one  of  the  braves  looked  round 
on  the  warrior  band  with  a  dark  scowl  before  he 
began.  His  comrades  were  evidently  impressed  by 
his  looks.  Whether  owing  to  a  freak  of  fancy,  a 
spice  of  eccentricity,  or  simple  vanitv,  we  know 
not,  but  this  brave  had,  among  other  ornamental 
touches  to  his  visage,  painted  his  nose  bright  red. 
The  effect  on  his  brother  braves  was  solemnising. 
It  was  not  so  impressive  to  his  white  observers,  as 
it  suggested  to  them  the  civilised  toper. 

"  The  great  white  chief,"  began  Rednose,  with  a 
slow  deliberation  that  was  meant  to  convey  a  settled 
and  unalterable  conviction,  "  is  a  fool ! " 


OF  THE  IIKD  KIVEK  PLAINS. 


156 


"  Waugli!"  exclaimed  the  audience  with  emphasis, 
for  the  language  was  strong,  and  uttered  with  intense 
vigour,  and  that  quite  accorded  with  their  tastes,  so 
they  agreed  with  the  sentiment  without  regard  to 
its  signification.  This  species  of  rhetoric,  and  its 
effects,  are  sometimes  observed  in  connection  with 
civilised  gatherings. 

The  great  white  chief  thus  irreverently  referred 
to,  we  regret  to  say,  was  Lord  Selkirk. 

"  The  great  white  chief,"  continued  Kednose, 
availing  himself  of  the  force  of  emphatic  repetition, 
"  is  a  fool !  He  is  a  child !  He  knows  nothing !  He 
comes  across  the  great  salt  lake  from  the  rising  sun, 
with  the  air  and  aspect  of  an  owl,  thinking  to  teach 
us — the  great  Cree  nation — wisdom ! " 

"Waugh!"  from  the  audience,  one  of  whom, 
having  a  cold  in  his  head,  sneezed  inadvertently, 
and  was  scowled  at  by  the  orator  for  full  two 
minutes  in  absolute  silence.  If  that  Cree  warrior 
— he  was  on  his  first  war-path — possessed  anything 
akin  to  the  feelings  of  the  Paleface  he  must  have 
suffered  martyrdom. 

"  Every  one  knows,"  continued  the  orator,  resum- 
ing, "  that  the  Crees  are  wise.  They  can  tell  a  fox 
from  a  buffalo.  They  understand  the  difference  be- 
tween fire  and  water.  No  Paleface  sage  needs  to 
come  from  the  rising  sun  to  tell  them  to  eat  when 
they  are  hungry — to  drink  when  they  are  dry.  But 
this  Paleface  chief  comes  with  the  eyes  of  the  great 


)> 


IT. 

:> 

••VM 

ii 
.i 


156 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :    A  TALE 


I  I 


\  \ 


I 


northern  owl,  and  says  he  comes  to  do  us  good. 
And  how  does  he  begin  to  do  us  good  ? " 

Here  there  was  a  very  decided  "  Waugh  I "  as 
though  to  say,  "  Ay,  that  *s  the  question,"  and  then 
a  solemn  pause  for  more — during  which  the  man 
with  the  cold  drew  the  reins  very  tight. 

"  How  does  he  begin  to  do  us  good  ? "  proceeded 
the  orator.  "  By  entering  into  an  agreement  with 
lis  for  the  use  of  our  lands — and  asking  our  enemies 
the  Saulteaux  to  take  part  in  that  agreement ! " 

The  sounds  of  indignation  and  ferocity  that 
followed  this  statement  are  not  translatable.  After 
a  gaze  of  unutterable  meaning  round  the  circle 
Rednose  went  on — 

"This,  this  is  the  way  in  which  the  owl-eyed 
chief  of  the  Palefaces  begins  to  do  us  good !  If 
this  is  the  way  he  begins,  in  what  way  will  he 
continue,  and" — here  his  voice  deepened  to  a 
whisper — "  how  will  he  end  ? " 

The  ideas  suggested  by  his  question  were  so 
appalling  that  for  some  minutes  the  orator  appeared 
unable  to  find  words  to  go  on,  and  his  audience 
glared  at  him  in  dread  anticipation  as  though  they 
expected  him  to  explode  like  a  bomb-shel^  but  were 
prepared  to  sit  it  out  and  take  the  consequences. 
And  he  did  explode,  after  a  fashion,  for  he  suddenly 
raised  his  voice  to  a  shout  that  startled  even  the 
sentinel  on  the  distant  knoll,  and  said — 

"War!  I  counsel  war  ^o  the  knife!    The  great 


OF  THE  RED  RIVEU  PLAINS. 


157 


good. 

hi"  as 
d  then 
e  man 

ceeded 
t  with 
lemies 


>> 


that 
After 
circle 

1-eyed 

1!    If 

ill  he 

to  a 

re  so 
eared 
ience 
they 
were 
nces. 
lenly 
I  the 

jreat 


white  chief — the  owl-eyed  fool ! — will  not  blot  from 
our  agreement  the  names  of  the  Saulteaux  chiefs — 
chiefs!  there  are  no  Saulteaux  chiefs.  All  their 
braves  are  cowards,  on  the  same  dead  level  of 
stupidity,  and  their  women  are — are  nothing,  fit 
for  nothing,  can  do  nothing,  and  must  soon  come 
to  nothing  !  What  then  ?  The  duty  of  Cree  war- 
riors lies  before  us.  We  will  drive  the  Sr^^lteaux 
into  Lake  Winnipeg  and  the  Palefaces  off  the  face 
of  the  earth  altogether !     Waugh  ! " 

Having  thus  given  vent  to  the  opinions  and 
feelings  that  consumed  him,  Eednose  sat  down, 
\m  audience  breathed  freely,  the  distant  sentinel 
recovered  his  composure,  and  the  young  novitiate 
brave  with  the  cold  in  his  head  sneezed  with 
impunity. 

It  would  be  tedious  to  recount  all  that  was  said 
at  that  council  of  war.  The  next  brave  that  rose  to 
"  address  the  house  "  very  much  resembled  the  first 
speaker,  both  in  sentiment  and  personal  appearance, 
except  that  he  had  chosen  sky-blue  for  his  nose 
instead  of  red.  The  only  ad'^^'tional  matter  that  he 
contributed  worth  noting  was  the  advice  that  they 
should  begin  their  bloody  work  by  an  immediate 
attack,  in  the  dead  of  night,  on  the  camp  of  the 
buffalo  runners. 

This  advice  was  hailed  with  a  good  many 
"  Waughs,"  as  well  as  approving  nods  and  looks,  and 
it  seemed  as  if  the  plan  were  about  to  be  carried 


^ 


'A 
f- 

:> 

a 

4 

i3 


158 


Till']  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


into  action  without  delay,  when,  as  we  have  seen, 
Okdmataii  arose  to  address  the  assemblage. 

Ok6matan  was  a  great  chief — much  greater  in 
the  estimation  of  his  tribe  than  the  wliites  with 
whom  he  had  been  associatincr  in  Eed  Eiver  were 
aware  of.  He  had  purposely  reserved  his  address 
till  near  the  conclusion. 

"The  Cree  warriors,"  he  said,  with  an  air  of  quiet 
dignity  tliat  was  far  more  effective  than  the  more 
energetic  tones  and  gestures  of  the  previous  speakers, 
"  know  ^^ery  well  that  the  Cree  nation  considers  itself 
the  wisest  in  creation.  Far  be  it  from  Ok^matan  to 
say  otherwise,  for  he  does  not  know.  Oki^matan  is 
a  child  !    His  eyes  are  only  beginning  to  open  !  " 

He  paused  at  this  point,  and  looked  round  with 
solemn  dignity  ;  and  the  braves,  unaccustomed  to 
such  self-depreciative  modes  of  address,  gazed  nt 
him  with  equal  solemnity,  not  unmingled  with 
surprise,  though  the  latter  feeling  was  carefully 
concealed. 

"  When  the  last  great  palaver  of  the  Cree  braves 
was  held  on  the  Blue-Pine  Eidge,"  continued 
Okdmatan,  "  the  chiefs  chose  me  to  go  to  Eed  Eiver, 
and  learn  all  thctt  I  could  find  out  about  the  Pale- 
faces and  their  intentions.  I  went,  as  you  know. 
I  attached  myself  to  a  family  named  Daa-veed-sin, 
and  I  have  found  out — found  out  much  about  the 
Palefaces — mucli  more  that  I  did  not  know  before, 
tlioudi  T  am  a  chief  of  the  Cree  nation," 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


159 


seen, 


Okcmatan  looked  pointedly  at  Ixednose  as  lie 
said  this.     After  a  brief  pause  he  continued — 

"The  great  white  chief"  (meaning  Lord  Selkirk) 
"  is  not  a  fool.  It  is  true  that  he  is  not  a  god  ;  he 
is  a  man  and  a  Paleface,  subject  to  the  follies  and 
weaknesses  of  the  Palefaces,  and  not  quite  so  wise 
as  it  is  possible  to  be,  but  he  is  a  good  man,  and 
wishes  well  to  the  Indian.  I  have  found  weaknesses 
among  the  Palefaces.  One  of  them  is  that  their 
chiefs  plan — sometimes  wisely,  sometinies  foolishly 
— but  they  leave  the  carrying  out  of  their  plans 
to  other  men,  and  sometimes  these  other  men  care 
for  nobody  but  themselves.  They  tell  lies,  they 
mislead  the  great  white  chief,  and  tell  him  to  do 
what  is  wrong. 

"So  it  was  wlien  our  agreement  came  to  be 
made.  The  great  white  chief  found,  when  he  came 
to  Eed  Eiver,  a  few  families  of  Saulteaux  whom  we 
had  permitted  to  hunt  on  our  lands.  He  thought 
the  land  belonged  to  the  Saulteaux  as  well  as  to 
the  Crees.  He  was  mistaken,  ignorant ;  he  knew  no 
better,  and  the  Palefaces  who  did  know,  did  not  put 
light  into  him;  so  the  names  of  Saulteaux  chiefs  were 
put  in  the  writing.  Then  the  great  white  chief 
went  away  across  the  great  salt  lake  to  the  lands  of 
the  rising  sun,  leaving  his  small  chiefs  to  carry  out 
his  plans.  Some  of  these  are  very  small  chiefs, 
unfit  to  carry  out  any  plans.  Others  are  bad  small 
chiefs,  tliat  will  carry  out  only  such  plans  as  are 


P 
Ui 

IT* 


160 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


i   1 


sure  to  beuefit  themselves.  It  is  these  men  with 
whom  we  have  to  deal.  It  is  these  who  deserve 
to  be  swept  off  the  face  of  the  earth." 

A  number  of  emphatic  nods  and  "  waughs  "  at  this 
point  showed  that  Ok^matan  had  at  last  touched 
a  key-note  with  which  his  braves  could  shout  in 
harmonr. 

"  But/'  resumed  the  chief  impressively,  "  we  can- 
not sweep  them  off  the  earth ;  we  cannot  even  sweep 
them  off  the  banks  of  Eed  River.  AVe  might  easily 
sweep  the  Saulteaux  into  Lake  Winnipeg  if  we 
thought  it  worth  while  to  try,  but  the  Palefaces — 
never!  Ok^matan  has  travelled  far  to  the  south 
and  seen  the  Palefaces  there.  They  cannot  be 
counted.  They  swarm  like  our  locusts  ;  they  darken 
the  earth  as  our  buffaloes  darken  the  plains.  They 
live  in  stone  wigwams.  I  have  seen  one  of  their 
wigwams  that  was  big  enough  to  hold  all  the  Crees' 
wigwams  bundled  together.  If  v/e  killed  or  scalped 
all  the  Palefaces  in  Eed  Eiver  the  great  white  chief 
would  come  ever  the  great  salt  lake  with  an  army 
that  would  swallow  us  up  as  the  buffalo  swallows 
up  a  tuft  of  grass. 

"Besides,"  continued  Okc^matan,  with  a  slight 
touch  of  pathos  in  his  tone,  "  there  are  good  and  bad 
men  among  the  Palefaces,  just  as  there  are  good  and 
bad  among  ourselves.  I  have  dwelt  for  many  moons 
with  a  tribe  called  Scosh-min.  Ok(^.matan  loves 
the  Scosh-min.     They  speak  a  wonderful  language, 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


161 


n  with 
ieserve 

at  tin's 
ouched 
out  in 

'e  can- 
sweep 
easily 
if  we 
aces — 
south 
lot  be 
larken 
They 
f  their 
Crees' 
calped 
)  chief 
army 
illows 

slight 
id  bad 
d  and 
noons 
loves 
^uage, 


and  some  of  them  are  too  fond  of  fire-water;  but 
their  braves  fear  nothing,  and  their  squav»s  are  pretty 
and  work  hard — almost  as  hard  as  our  squaws — 
though  they  are  not  quite  as  good-looking  as  ours. 
They  are  too  white — their  faces  are  like  buffalo  fat ! " 

A  "  Waugh "  which  might  be  translated  "  Hear, 
hear,"  greeted  this  statement  of  opinion. 

"Now,"  continued  our  chief,  "if  we  swept  away 
all  the  people  of  Eed  Kiver,  we  would  sweep  away 
the  good  Scosh-min,  which  would  be  foolish,  and  we 
would  gain  nothing  in  the  end,  but  would  bring 
worse  trouble  on  our  heads.  My  counsel,  there- 
fore, is  for  peace.  I  advise  that  we  should  let  the 
buffalo  runners  and  the  people  of  Eed  Elver  alone ; 
send  a  message  with  our  grievances  to  the  great 
white  chief;  ask  him  to  come  back  over  the  great 
salt  lake  to  put  things  right,  and,  in  the  meantime, 
wait  with  patience ;  attend  to  our  own  business ; 
hunt,  fish,  eat,  drink,  sleep,  and  be  happy." 

Having  delivered  his  harangue,  Ok^matan  sat 
down  amid  murmurs  of  mingled  applause  and  dis- 
approbation. It  was  evident  that  he  had  created  a 
serious  division  of  opinion  in  the  camp,  and  it 
seemed  as  if  on  the  impression  made  by  the  next 
speaker  would  depend  the  great  question  of  peace 
or  war. 

Presently  an  old  warrior  arose,  and  a  profound 
silence  followed,  for  they  held  him  in  great 
respect. 

L 


3 


ij 


U! 


I  ! 


I, 


It" 


f::h 


1G2 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


"  My  braves,"  said  the  old  man  sententiously, 
"  1  have  lived  long,  and  my  fighting  days  are  nearly 
over.  If  wisdom  has  not  accumulated  on  my  head 
it  must  be  my  own  fault,  for  I  have  had  great 
experience  both  of  war  and  peace — more  of  war, 
perhaps,  than  of  peace.  And  the  opinion  that  I 
have  come  to  after  long  and  very  deep  consideration 
is  this  :  if  there  is  something  to  fight  for,  fight — 
fight  well ;  if  there  is  nothing  to  fight  for,  don't  fight 
—don't  fight  at  all." 

The  old  man  paused,  and  there  were  some 
"  Waughs  "  of  approval,  for  the  truth  contained  in 
his  profound  conclusion  was  obvious  even  to  the 
stupidest  Eed-skin  of  the  band — supposing  that  a 
stupid  brave  among  Crees  were  possible ! 

"  I  have  also  lived  to  see,"  continued  the  old  man, 
"  that  revenge  is  nothitu; — nothing  at  all,  and  there- 
fore not  worth  fighting  for." 

As  this  was  flying  straight  in  the  face  of  tiiC 
most  cherished  of  Red-skins'  beliefs,  it  was  received 
in  dead  though  respectful  silence. 

"  My  young  braves  do  not  believe  this.  I  know 
it.  I  have  been  young  myself,  and  I  remember  well 
how  pleasant  revenge  was  to  me,  but  I  soon  found 
that  the  pleasure  of  levenge  did  not  last.  It  soon 
passed  away,  yet  the  dce^i  of  revenge  did  not  pass 
away,  and  sometimes  the  de?'^  became  to  my  memory 
very  bitter — insomuch  thpr  f-;he  pleasantness  was 
entirely  swallowed  i;,-  nud  I'urgotten  in  the  bitter- 


OF  THE  RKD  RIVER  PLAINS. 


163 


tiously, 
nearly 
y  head 
great 
)f  war, 
that  I 
oration 
Pight— 
't  fight 

some 
led  in 
to  the 
that  a 

I  man, 
there- 
of the 
3eived 

know 
r  well 
found 

soon 

pass 
mory 

was 
itter- 


ness.  My  young  braves  will  not  believe  this,  I 
know.  They  go  on  feeling;  they  think  on  feeling; 
they  reason  on  feeling ;  they  trust  to  feeling.  It  is 
foolish,  for  the  brain  was  given  to  enable  man  to 
think  and  judge  and  plan.  You  are  as  foolish  as  if 
you  were  to  try  to  smell  with  your  mouth  and  eat 
with  your  nose.  But  it  is  the  way  of  youth.  When 
experience  teaches,  then  you  will  come  to  know  that 
revenge  i;:  not  worth  fighting  for — its  pleasantness 
will  pass  away,  but  the  bitter  it  leaves  behind  will 
never  puss  away. 

"  Wlia  is  the  meaning  of  revenge  ? "  continued 
this  anal  vtical  old  savage.  "  What  is  the  use  of  it  ? 
Does  ii  not  mean  that  we  give  up  all  hope  of  getting 
what  we  want,  and  wildly  determine  to  get  what 
pleasur  J  is  still  possible  to  us  by  killing  those  who 
have  thwarted  us  ?  And  when  you  have  killed  and 
got  all  the  pleasure  there  is,  what  does  it  come  to  ? 
Your  enemy  is  dead,  and  scalped.  What  then  ]  He 
does  not  know  that  he  is  dead.  He  does  not  care 
that  he  is  dead  and  scalped.  You  cannot  keep  him 
alive  for  ever  killing  and  scalping  him.  But  you 
have  made  his  wife  and  children  miserable.  What 
of  that?  It  was  not  his  wife  and  children  who 
opposed  you,  therefore  you  have  revenged  yourself 
on  the  wrong  persons.  He  does  not  know  that  you 
have  rendered  his  wife  and  children  miserable,  and 
does  not  care ;  therefore,  I  ask,  why  are  you  pleased  ? 
If  your  enemy  was  a  good  man,  your  revenge  has  only 


•51 


1 


,  * 


:il!! 


!  H 


ttl> 


164 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


done  him  a  kindness,  for  it  has  sent  him  to  the 
happy  hunting  grounds  before  his  time,  where  you 
will  probably  never  meet  him  to  have  the  pleasure 
of  being  revenged  on  him  there.  If  he  was  a  bad 
man,  you  have  sent  him  to  the  world  of  Desolation, 
where  he  will  be  waiting  to  receive  you  when  you 
get  there,  and  where  revenge  will  be  imj)ossible,  for 
men  are  not  allowed  to  kill  or  scalp  there.  At  least 
if  they  are  I  never  heard  of  it — and  I  am  an  old 
man  now. 

"There  is  nothing,  then,  to  fight  for  with  the 
Palefaces  of  Red  liiver,  and  niy  counsel  is,  like  that 
of  Ok^matan,  that  we  should  decide  on  peace — not 


war 


>> 


Whatever  may  have  been  tlie  private  opinion  of 
the  braves  as  to  this  new  and  very  unexpected  style 
of  address,  tiie  effect  of  it  was  pacilic;  for,  after  a 
little  more  palaver,  the  peace-party  carried  the  day — 
or,  rather  the  night — and,  next  mornmg,  the  Cree 
warriors  went  back  to  their  tents  and  hunting  avo- 
cations, leaving  Okematan  to  return  to  the  camp 
of  his  friends  •  ae  buffalo  runners. 


OF  THE  RED  RIVExi  PLAINS. 


165 


1  to  the 
lere  you 
pleasure 
s  a  bad 
elation, 
ion  you 
ible,  for 
A-t  least 
I  an  old 

ith  the 
ke  that 
Je — not 

iiion  of 
d  style 
after  a 
day-— 
9  Cree 


ff  avo- 


camp 


CHAPTER   XVI. 


AN   KVi:XlNO   IN  THE  CAMP. 


It  was  daybreak  when  Fergus  M'Kay  galloped 
into  camp  with  the  startling  news  that  an  attack  by 
hostile  Indians  might  be  expected  that  day  or  the 
following  night.  He  was,  of  course,  unaware  of  the 
fact  that  the  peace-making  Okematan  had  been  un- 
wittingly following  his  tracks  at  a  more  leisurely 
pace. 

Some  readers  may  think  that  the  Indian,  with  his 
traditional  power  of  following  a  trail,  should  have 
observed  and  suspected  the  fresh  track  of  the  hunter, 
but  it  must  be  remembered  that  some  hundreds  of 
buffalo  runners  had  passed  over  the  same  track  a 
day  or  two  previously,  and  that  Hawkeye,  or  I*ath- 
finder  himself,  would  have  become  helpless  in  the 
midst  of  such  trampled  confusion.  Besides,  Oke- 
matan had  no  reason  to  suspect  that  he  had  been 
followed ;  still  less  that  the  camp  of  the  war-party 
had  been  accidentally  discovered. 

"  Now,  boys,"  said  Fergus,  after  detailing  his  ad- 
ventures during  the  night,  "  we  will  hev  to  give  up 


:^ 


'A 

:> 

'.J 


1ij 


.1 1 


1G6 


THE  BUri'ALO  RUNNERS:    A  TALE 


tlllDII 


( 


'    '■!,'''' 


■-,;'lli 


all  notion  o'  buffalo  runiiin'  this  day  an'  putt  the 
camp  in  a  state  o'  defence." 

There  was  a  good  deal  of  grumbling  at  this,  es- 
pecially among  some  of  the  younger  men  ;  for  they 
were  very  keen  to  commence  the  sport,  and  had  not 
much  belief  in  the  power  of  a  small  band  of  savages 
to  do  them  harm.  Some  of  them  even  suggested 
that  half  of  their  n  nber  should  remain  behind  to 
guard  the  camp  while  the  other  half  should  go  after 
the  bullalo.  This  proposal,  however,  was  not  re- 
ceived with  favour,  as  it  would  certainly  be  a  matter 
of  disagreement  which  half  was  to  go  out,  and  which 
to  remain  behind ! 

"  Where  is  Kateegoose  ? "  asked  Dechamp  at  this 
crisis. 

"  Stuftin'  'imself,  of  course  ! "  sa^'d  Fred  Jenkins, 
amid  a  general  laugh.  "  I  Ve  noticed,  since  we  set 
sail  on  this  trip,  that  Kateegoose  always  turns  out 
at  daybreak,  lights  the  galley  fire,  an'  begins  the 
dooties  o'  the  day  by  stuffin'  'imself." 

"  Ay,  and  I  've  noticed,"  observed  one  of  the  young 
hunters,  "  that  it  takes  a  deal  o'  stuffin'  to  fill  him  out 
properly,  for  he  keeps  on  at  it  most  part  o'  the  day." 

"  Except,"  remarked  another,  '*  when  he  stops  to 
smoke  what  o'  the  stuffin'  has  been  already  shoved 
down." 

"  Moreover,"  added  the  seaman,  '"  I  've  noticed 
that  Francois  La  Certe  Always  keeps  'im  company. 
He  's  a  sympathetic  sort  o'  man  is  Fran(^ois,  fond  o* 


OF  THE  IIKI)  KIVKIJ  PLAINS. 


167 


helpin'  his  mates — specially  when  they're  eatiii'  an* 
smokin'." 

At  this  moment  Katecgoosc,  having  been  called, 
came  forward.  He  was  an  ill-favoured  savage,  with 
various  expressions  on  his  ugly  visage  which  were 
not  so  much  Nature's  gifts  as  the  result  of  his  own 
evil  passions.  Jealousy  was  one  of  them,  and  he 
had  often  turned  a  green  eye  on  Okematan.  There 
were  indications  about  his  mouth  and  fingers,  as 
he  came  forward,  that  justified  the  commentaries  on 
his  habits,  and  betrayed  recent  acquaintance  with 
fat  pork. 

"You  hear  the  reports  that  have  just  been 
brought  in  ? "  said  Dechamp. 

"  Kateegoose  hears,"  was  the  laconic  answer. 

"  Kateegoose  is  a  Cree,"  continued  Dechamp ;  "  he 
knows  the  spirit  that  dwells  in  the  hearts  of  his 
tribe.     What  does  he  think  ? " 

"  The  thoughts  of  the  Indian  are  many  and  deep. 
He  has  for  many  moons  watched  the  behaviour  of 
Okematan,  and  he  has  long  suspected  that  the  heart 
of  the  serpent  dwells  in  the  breast  of  that  chief. 
Now  he  is  sure." 

"But  what  about  your  people?"  demanded  the 
camp-chief.  "They  are  not  at  war  Wh  us.  Are 
they  all  villains  because  one  among  them  turns  out 
to  be  bad  ?  " 

Kateegoose  drew  himself  up  with  a  look  of  dignity, 
and  pouted  his  greasy  lips  as  he  replied — 


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THE  BUFFALO  RUNNEUS  :  A  TALK 


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"  The  Crees  have  always  been  a  brave  and  true 
and  upri<^dit  people.  They  never  attack  friends 
until,  by  their  conduct,  these  friends  have  become 
enemies.  But  the  Croes  are  human.  Th.ey  are  not 
perfect — neither  are  the  Palefaces.  There  are  bad 
men  among  them — a  few ;  not  many — as  well  as 
young  men  and  foolish.  Sometimes,  when  on  the 
v.^ar-path,  a  clever  bad  man  can  reason  with  them 
till  he  blinds  them,  and  they  are  ready  to  do  wrong. 
It  may  be  so  now.  Ok^matan  is  clever.  Kateegoose 
does  not  know  what  to  advise." 

"Kateegoose  was  not  asked  to  advitse?"  returned 
Dechamp  sternly.     "  He  may  return  to  his  tent." 

Thus  summarily  dismissed,  this  hanger-on  or  camp- 
follower  returned  to  his  pork  and  pipe  with  a  feel- 
ing that  somehow  he  had  failed  to  make  the  exact 
impression  on  the  leader  that  he  desired.  La  Certe, 
however,  consoled  him,  and  helped  him  to  continue 
the  duties  of  the  day. 

"Come  with  me,  M'Kay,"  said  Dechamp,  after 
giving  all  needful  directions  regarding  the  safety 
of  the  camp.  "  I  don't  believe  that  rascal  Katee- 
goose. He's  a  greedy  idler,  something  like  La 
Certe,  but  by  no  means  so  harmless  or  good-natured. 
Moreover,  I  find  it  hard  to  believe  that  0\(^matan 
has  turned  traitor." 

"  I  agree  with  you,"  said  Fergus.  "  It  iss  ferry 
hard  to  believe  that  a  man  who  has  been  so  long 
among  us,  and  got  such  a  good  character,  should 


OF  THK  KEI)  RIVKIl  PLAINS. 


169 


suddenly  turn  a.ii;iunst  us — an'  tliat,  too,  witliout 
provocation.  But  wliat  will  you  be  sayin'  to  what 
Taniel  and  myself  has  seen  with  our  two  eyes  ?" 

"  It  looks  bad,  I  confess,"  answered  Dechanip,  as 
they  paced  to  and  fro  in  a  retired  part  of  the  camp ; 
"  but  you  must  remember  tliat  your  two  eyes  are 
not  your  two  ears,  and  that  you  heard  nothing  that 
you  could  understand." 

"  Fery  true,  Dechamp.  But  the  language  of  the 
eye  is  sometimes  as  clear  and  understandable  as  the 
lan<iua^e  of  the  ear.  No  wan  could  mistake  the 
meanin'  o'  some  o*  the  warriors  when  they  scowled 
an'  pointed  in  the  direction  of  our  camp  here,  an' 
gripped  the  handles  o'  their  scalpin'  knives  and 
tomahawks.  Moreover,  Okematan  also  pointed  in 
the  same  direction,  though  I  am  bound  to  say  he 
did  not  grip  his  knife.  Whether  he  scowled  or  not  I 
do  not  know,  for  he  was  stan'in  wi'  his  back  to  us." 

"  Well,  I  cannot  tell.  I  'm  not  willin'  to  believe 
Ok(5matan  a  traitor;  but  what  you  have  seen  is 
enough  to  make  me  put  the  camp  in  defence  instead 
of  startin'  out  to  hunt " 

At  that  moment  the  sharp  click  of  a  gun  was 
heard  as  a  neighbouring  sentry  put  his  piece  on 
full  cock. 

Dechamp  and  Fergus  hastened  towards  him. 

"Have  a  care,  Andre;  don't  be  too  quick  with 
your  gun,"  said  the  former.     "  I  see  only  one  man 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

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170 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


As  the  approaching  figure  drew  near,  it  was  seen 
to  be  that  of  an  Indian  on  horseback.  He  rode 
carelessly  at  a  jog-trot. 

"  It  looks  like  Okdmatan !"  said  Dechamp,  glancing 
at  his  companion  in  surprise. 

"  It  iss  Okeraatan,"  returned  Fergus. 

Before  another  word  could  be  spoken,  a  shot  was 
heard  in  the  camp,  and  horse  and  man  were  seen  to 
roll  upon  the  ground.  The  latter  rose  immediately, 
but  the  horse  lay  still — evidently  shot  dead.  For 
a  few  seconds  profound  silence  followed  the  incident, 
as  if  men  were  too  much  taken  by  surprise  to  think 
and  act.  Then,  when  the  dismounted  Indian  was 
seen  to  walk  leisurely,  as  if  unhurt,  towards  them, 
there  was  a  hubbub  in  the  camp,  while  men,  women, 
and  boys  ran  towards  the  spot  whence  the  shot 
seemed  to  have  been  fired,  but  no  one  was  to  be 
found  there.  Only  a  very  faint  puff  of  smoke  over- 
head told  where  the  marksman  had  stood.  It  had 
been  a  well-c  bosen  spot,  where  a  low  bush  or  two 
mingled  with  several  carts  that  had  been  rather 
carelessly  drawn  up,  and  several  horses  had  been 
picketed  together.  These  had  afforded  concealment 
enough  for  at  least  a  few  moments. 

The  tent  of  La  Certe  was  not  far  from  this  corner. 
At  the  time  the  shot  was  heard,  the  self-indulgent 
half-breed  was  inside,  recumbent  on  his  back  in  the 
enjoyment  of  a  pipe. 

"  That 's  odd,"  he  said  to  Slowf oot,  who  was  seated 


il 


OF  THE  RED  RIVEU  PLAINS. 


171 


opposite  to  her  lord  scraping  the  remnants  of  some- 
thing out  of  a  tin  kettle  with  the  point  of  a  scalping 
knife.  "  Somebody's  gun  gone  off  by  accident,  I 
suppose.  I  hear  some  one  at  our  fire.  Look  out, 
Slowfoot,  and  ask  what  has  happened." 

Slowfoot  finished  the  scraping  of  the  kettle  before 
obeying;  then  lifted  the  curtain  that  closed  the 
opening  of  their  tent,  and  peeped  out. 

"It  is  Kateegoose — loading  his  gun,  I  think." 

La  Certe  got  up,  with  a  sigh  of  regret  at  the 
necessity  for  exertion,  and,  lifting  the  curtain-door, 
stepped  out. 

"  What  are  they  firing  at,  Kateegoose  ? " 

The  Indian  did  not  know.  Some  one,  he  thought, 
might  have  let  off  his  gun  by  accident.  He  thought 
it  wise,  however,  to  be  ready,  and  had  just  sent  the 
ramrod  down  the  barrel  of  his  gun  to  make  sure 
that  it  was  loaded  with  ball.  To  make  still  surer 
that  all  was  ready,  the  Indian  shook  the  priming 
out  of  the  pan  of  his  gun,  wiped  it,  and  re-primed. 
Then  he  laid  the  weapon  down  by  his  side,  and 
resumed  the  pipe  which  he  had  apparently  laid 
down  to  enable  him  to  perform  these  operations  more 
conveniently,  and,  at  the  same  time,  with  more  safety. 

At  that  moment  Dechamp  walked  smartly  to- 
wards the  fire  in  front  of  La  Certe's  tent. 

"  Does  Kateegoose  know  who  fired  that  shot  ? "  he 
asked  with  a  keen  glance,  for  his  suspicions  had 
been  aroused. 


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172 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


"•Jiij 


"Some  one  over  there,"  answered  the  Indian 
languidly,  as  he  pointed  in  the  right  direction. 

"It  does  not  need  a  medicine-man  to  tell  me 
that,"  said  Dechamp,  sternly.  "I  heard  the  shot, 
and  saw  the  smoke.  Have  you  any  idea  who  fired 
it.  La  Certe  ? " 

"I  have  not,"  replied  the  half-breed.  "I  was 
lying  in  my  tent  when  I  heard  it.  Kateegoose  was 
smoking  beside  the  fire.  "We  both  thought  it  was 
an  accident,  or  some  one  trying  his  gun,  till  we 
heard  the  shouting  and  running.  Then  I  jumped 
up,  seized  my  gun,  and  sprang  out  to  see  what  it 
was  all  about.  I  found  Kateegoose  equally  on  the 
qui  vive.  He  was  shoving  his  ramrod  down  to 
make  sure  his  gun  was  loaded  when  you  came  up. 
What  is  it  all  about  ? " 

"  Only  that  the  horse  of  Ok(^matan  has  been  shot 
under  him  by  some  one,  and  that  there  is  a  would- 
be  murderer  in  the  camp." 

"  Ok^matan !  Has  the  traitor  ventured  to  return  ?" 
exclaimed  Kateegoose,  with  an  expression  of  surprise 
that  was  very  unusual  in  an  Indian. 

"  Ay,  he  has  ventured,"  responded  Dechamp,  "  and 
some  one  has  ventured  to  fire  at  him  with  intent  to 
kill.  By  good  luck  he  was  a  bad  shot.  He  missed 
the  man,  though  he  hit  and  killed  the  horse.  But  I 
shall  find  the  rascal  out  before  long — he  may  depend 
on  that ! " 

So  saying,  the  commandant  left  the  spot. 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


173 


"  Do  you  know  anything  about  this  ? "  asked  La 
Certe,  turning  full  on  the  Indian. 

"  Kateegoose  is  not  a  medicine-man.  He  cannot 
be  in  two  places  at  once.     He  knows  nothing." 

For  a  sly  man  La  Certe  was  wonderfully  credulous. 
He  believed  the  Indian,  and,  returning  to  his  tent, 
lay  down  again  to  finish  the  interrupted  pipe. 

"  Kateegoose  was  trying  his  gun  to  see  if  it  was 
loaded,"  he  said  to  his  better  half. 

"  That 's  a  lie,"  returned  Slowfoot,  with  that 
straightforward  simplicity  of  diction  for  which  she 
was  famous. 

"  Indeed!  What,  then,  was  he  doing,  my  Slowfoot?" 

"  He  was  loading  his  gun — not  trying  it." 

"  Are  you  sure  ? " 

"  Am  I  sure  that  our  little  child  loves  tobacco  ? " 

"  Well,  I  suppose  you  are.  At  any  rate,  the  child 
often  asks  you  for  a  pipe,  and  gets  it  too.  Hm !  if 
Kateegoose  fired  that  shot  he  must  be  a  bad  man. 
But  our  chief  is  sure  to  find  it  out — and — it  is  no 
business  of  mine.     Fetch  me  the  tobacco,  Slowfoot." 

That  same  morning,  Archie  Sinclair  was  seated 
beside  his  brother,  Little  Bill,  in  the  tent  that  was 
shared  by  Fred  Jenkins  and  several  young  half- 
breeds.  He  was  alone  with  his  brother,  Jenkins 
having  gone  out  with  the  blunderbuss  to  assist,  if 
need  be,  in  the  defence  of  the  camp.  He  was 
manufacturing  a  small  bow  for  his  brother  to  amuse 
himself  with  while  he  should  be  away  "  seein'  the 


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174 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


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fun,"  as  he  said,  with  the  hunters.  The  instant  the 
sailor  left,  however,  he  looked  at  Billie  mysteriously 
and  said,  in  a  low  voice — 

"  Little  Bill,  although  you  're  not  good  for  much 
with  your  poor  little  body,  you've  got  a  splendid 
headpiece,  and  are  amazing  at  giving  advice.  I 
want  advice  just  now  very  bad.  You've  heard 
what  they  've  all  been  saying  about  this  shot  that 
was  fired  at  Ok^matan,  and  some  o*  the  men  say 
they  think  it  must  have  been  Kateegoose  that 
did  it.  Now,  Billie,  I  am  sure  that  it  was  Katee- 
goose that  did  it." 

"  Oh ! "  exclaimed  Little  Bill,  making  his  eyes 
and  mouth  into  three  rounds  0-s.  "  How  d'  ye 
know  that  ?    Did  you  see  him  do  it  ? " 

"  No — it 's  that  that  bothers  me.  If  I  had  seen 
him  do  it  I  would  have  gone  straight  and  told 
Dechamp,  but  I  didn't  quite  see  him,  you  see.  I 
was  in  Lamartine's  cart  at  the  time,  rummagin' 
about  for  a  piece  o'  wood  to  make  this  very  bow,  an' 
the  moment  I  heard  the  shot  I  peeped  out,  an  saw 
— nothing ! " 

"  That  wasn't  much,"  remarked  Little  Bill,  inno- 
cently. 

"Ay,  but  I  soon  saw  something,"  continued 
Archie,  with  increasing  solemnity ;  "  I  saw  Katee- 
goose coming  slinking  round  among  the  carts,  as  if 
he  wanted  not  to  be  seen.  I  saw  him  only  for  a 
moment — gliding  past  like  a  ghost." 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


175 


eyes 
d'ye 

seen 
told 


"  It  *s  a  serious  thing,"  said  Little  Bill,  musing 
gravely,  "  to  charge  a  man  with  tryin*  to  kill  another 
man,  if  that 's  all  you  've  got  to  tell,  for  you  know 
it 's  a  way  the  Red-skins  have  of  always  glidin*  about 
as  if  they  was  for  ever  after  mischief." 

"But  that's  not  all,  Little  Bill,"  returned  his 
brother,  "  for  I  'm  almost  certain  that  I  saw  a 
little  smoke  comin'  out  o'  the  muzzle  of  his  gun  as 
he  passed — though  I  couldn't  exactly  swear  to 
it." 

Archie  had  overrated  his  brother's  powers  in 
the  way  of  advice,  for,  although  they  talked  the 
matter  over  for  some  time,  they  failed  to  arrive  at 
any  satisfactory  conclusion. 

Meanwhile  Ok^matan,  having  entered  the  camp, 
was  met  by  Dechamp,  and  led  by  him  to  a  retired 
part. 

"  You  have  an  enemy  here,  Ok^matan,"  he  said, 
inquiringly. 

"  It  would  seem  so,"  returned  the  Indian  gravely. 
"  Friends  do  not  shoot  each  other's  horses ;  and  if 
the  poor  horse  had  not  tossed  his  head  when  the 
shot  was  fired,  his  rider  would  have  bit  the  dust." 

"I  fear  it  looks  something  like  that,"  said 
Dechamp ;  "  but  I  hope  Ok^matan  believes  that  / 
know  nothing  of  the  matter — nor  can  I  tell  who 
the  cowardly  villain  is  that  did  it." 

"Ok(5matan  knows  that,"  answered  the  Indian, 
sternly.     "  No  half-breed  fired  the  shot." 


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176 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


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"  There  is  no  Indian  in  the  camp  but  Kateegoose," 
rejoined  the  other,  quickly ;  "  surely  you  don't  think 
that  a  man  of  your  own  tribe  would  try  to  kill 
you  ? " 

"  I  know  not.  Kateegoose  hates  me.  No  other 
man  in  the  camp  hates  me." 

"It  is  strange — unaccountable," returned  Dechamp. 
"  If  the  Indian  did  it,  he  shall  forfeit  his  horse  and 
leave  the  camp.  But  tell  me" —  here  the  half-breed 
commandant  turned  a  searching  gaze  on  his  com- 
panion, "why  did  Ok^matan  leave  us,  and  spend 
all  night  alone  on  the  prairie  1  Did  he  spend  the 
night  in  conversation  with  the  buffalo — or  in  the 
company  of  his  departed  forefathers  ? " 

No  sign  of  surprise,  or  of  any  other  emotion,  was 
visible  on  the  countenance  of  the  Ked-man  as  he 
replied :  "  Ok^matan  went  out  to  meet  a  party  of 
his  tribe  on  the  war-path." 

Dechamp  was  not  so  successful  in  concealing  his 
own  surprise  at  this  answer. 

"  Does  the  Cree  chief,"  he  asked,  with  something 
of  doubt  in  his  tone  and  look,  "  choose  the  hours  of 
night  to  consult  with  warriors  about  secret  assaults 
and  surprises  on  friends  ? " 

"  He  does  not ! "  answered  the  Indian,  decidedly 
but  calmly — though  he  was  unquestionably  as- 
tonished at  being  questioned  so  pointedly  and 
correctly  as  to  his  recent  proceedings,  and  felt  that 
he  must  have  been  followed.    He  was  not  the  man, 


)    \ 


OF  TIIK  RED  IIIVER  PLAINS. 


177 


» 


however,  to  betray  his  feelings,  or  to  commit  himself 
in  any  way ;  therefore  he  took  refuge  in  silence. 

**  Come  now,  Ok^matan,"  said  his  companion  in 
a  confidential  tone.  "  Don't  let  a  misunderstanding 
arise  between  you  and  me.  What  is  this  that  I 
have  heard  ?  You  spent  last  night,  as  you  admit, 
with  a  party  of  Crees  on  the  war-path.  You  were 
seen  and  heard,  and  the  men  of  the  camp  think  you 
have  turned  traitor,  and  they  are  even  now  expect- 
ing an  attack  from  this  war-party.  Is  it  true  that 
we  are  to  be  attacked  ? " 

"You  say  I  was  heard,"  answered  the  Indian, 
looking  the  half-breed  straight  in  the  face.  "  If  so, 
those  who  heard  must  know  what  I  said." 

"Nay,  they  did  indeed  hear,  but  they  did  not 
understand,  for  they  know  not  your  language ;  but 
they  know  the  language  of  signs,  and,  by  the  looks 
and  gestures  of  the  warriors,  they  guessed  what  was 
said  and  planned." 

"  Is  it  likely,"  asked  the  Indian  in  a  low  voice, 
"  that  Ok^matan  would  return  to  your  camp  alone, 
and  put  himself  in  your  power,  if  an  attack  was 
intended  ? " 

"True,  true,"  returned  Dechamp  with  a  hearty 
air ;  "  and,  to  say  truth,  I  myself  did  not — do  not — 
believe  you  false.  If  you  tell  me  the  truth,  Oke- 
matan,  and  give  me  your  word  that  this  report  is  a 
mistaken  one,  I  will  believe  you  and  trust  you." 

The  Indian  seemed   pleased  with  the  assurance 

M 


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178 


THK  BUFFALO  KUNNEHS  :  A  TALK 


I'     ' 


thus  heartily  given,  but  still  maintained  his  dignified 
gravity,  as  he  said —  • 

"Okdmatan  always  tells  the  truth.  He  had 
hoped  that  the  folly  of  some  young  braves  of  his 
tribe  should  never  have  been  known  to  any  one; 
but  since  it  has  been  found  out,  he  will  tell  all  he 
knows  to  his  pale-faced  brother." 

Hereupon  he  related  all  that  had  transpired  at 
the  council  of  war,  and  the  final  success  of  his  own 
speech,  with  that  of  the  old  warrior,  in  producing  a 
peaceful  solution. 

"  But  are  you  sure  they  will  follow  your  advice  ? " 
asked  Dechamp. 

"  Yes,  Ok^matan  is  quite  sure." 

"  Well,  then,  as  I  said,  I  will  trust  you,"  returned 
Dechamp,  extending  his  hand,  which  the  Indian 
gi'avely  grasped ;  "  and  I  will  give  you  undeniable 
proof,  by  giving  my  young  men  orders  to  start  after 
the  buffalo  at  once — without  further  delay." 


Of  THE  KED  KIVEK  TLAINS. 


179 


CHArTER    XVII. 


THE   BUFFALO    HUNT. 


In  accordance  with  the  assurance  given  to  Ok($- 
matan  Antoine  Dechamp  at  once  gave  orders  to 
make  preparation  for  an  immediate  start  after  the 
buffalo — much  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  hunters, 
especially  the  young  ones. 

Buffaloes — or,  to  speak  more  correctly,  bisons 
— roamed  over  the  North  American  prairies  at  the 
time  we  write  of  in  countless  thousands;  for  the 
Indians,  although  extremely  wasteful  of  animal 
life,  could  not  keep  their  numbers  down,  and  the 
aggressive  white  man,  with  his  deadly  gun  and 
rifle,  had  only  just  begun  to  depopulate  the  plains. 
Therefore  the  hunters  had  not  to  travel  far  before 
coming  up  with  their  quarry. 

In  a  very  brief  space  of  time  they  were  all  drawn 
up  in  line  under  command  of  their  chosen  leader, 
who,  at  least  up  to  the  moment  of  giving  the  signal 
for  attack,  kept  his  men  in  reasonably  good  order. 
They  had  not  ridden  long  when  the  huge  ungainly 
bisons  were  seen  like  black  specks  on  the  horizon. 


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3 

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180 


TlIK  BUFFALO  UriNNEHS :   A  TALK 


-1 

[     '     *» 

'                               J; 

1 

1 
1 

\ 

Still  the  horsemen — each  armed  with  the  muzzle- 
loading,  single-barrelled,  flint-lock  gun  of  the  period 
— advanced  cautiously,  until  so  near  that  the  ani- 
mals began  to  look  up  as  if  in  surprise  at  the 
unwonted  intrusion  on  their  great  solitudes. 

Then  the  signal  was  given,  the  horses  stretched 
out  at  the  gallop,  the  buffalo  began  to  run — at  first 
heavily,  as  if  great  speed  were  impossible  to  them ; 
but  gradually  the  pace  increased  until  it  attained  to 
racing  speed.  Then  the  hunters  gave  the  rein  to 
their  eager  steeds,  and  the  long  line  rushed  upon  the 
game  like  a  tornado  of  centaurs. 

From  this  point  all  discipline  was  at  an  end. 
Each  man  fought  for  his  own  hand,  killing  as  many 
animals  as  he  could,  so  that  ere  long  the  plain  was 
strewn  with  carcases,  and  the  air  filled  with  gun- 
powder smoke. 

We  have  said  that  all  the  hunters  set  out,  but  this 
is  not  strictly  correct,  for  three  were  left  behind. 
One  of  these  had  fallen  sick ;  one  had  sprained  his 
wrist,  and  another  was  lazy.  It  need  scarcely  be 
told  that  the  lazy  one  was  Franqois  La  Certe. 

"  There  is  no  hurry,"  he  said,  when  the  hunters 
were  assembling  for  the  start ;  *'  plenty  of  time.  My 
horse  has  not  yet  recovered  from  the  fatigues  of  the 
journey.  And  who  knows  but  the  report  of  the 
buffalo  being  so  near  may  be  false  ?  I  will  wait  and 
see  the  result.  To-morrow  will  be  time  enough  to 
begin.     Then,  Slowfoot,  you  will  see  what  I  can  do. 


gun- 


■«K:i£i#1 


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THE  CHASE.— Pack  ISO. 


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iki 


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0 


OF  THE  RED  P.IVER  TLAlNi?. 


181 


Q 


<J    y,'  4 


Your  hands  sball  be  busy.  We  v/ill  load  our  cart 
with  meat  and  pemmican,  pay  off  all  our  debts,  and 
spend  a  happy  winter  in  Eec^  Eiver.  What  have 
you  got  there  in  the  kettle  ? " 

"  Pork,"  answered  Slowfoot  with  characteristic 
brevity. 

"  Will  it  soon  be  ready  :  ' 

"  Soon." 

"  Have  you  got  the  tea  unpacked  ? " 

"  Yes." 

"  Send  me  your  pipe." 

This  latter  speech  was  more  in  the  tone  of  a  re- 
quest than  a  command,  and  the  implied  messenger 
from  the  opposite  side  of  the  fire  was  the  baby — 
Baby  La  Certe.  'Vv^'e  never  knew  its  name,  if  it  had 
one,  and  we  have  reason  to  believe  that  it  was  a 
female  baby.  At  the  time,  baby  was  quite  able  to 
walk — at  least  to  waddle  or  toddle. 

A  brief  order  from  the  maternal  lips  sent  Baby 
La  Certe  toddling  round  the  fire  towards  its  father, 
pipe  in  hand ;  but,  short  though  the  road  was,  it  had 
time  to  pause  and  consider.  Evidently  the  idea  of 
justice  was  strongly  developed  in  that  child.  Fair 
wage  for  fair  work  had  clearly  got  hold  of  it,  for  it 
put  the  pipe  which  was  still  alight,  in  its  mouth  and 
began  to  draw ! 

At  this  the  father  smiled  benignly,  but  Slow- 
foot  made  a  demonstration  which  induced  a  rather 
prompt  completion  of  the  walk  without  a  reasonable 


3 

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182 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


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wage.  It  sucked  vigorously  all  the  time,  however, 
being  evidently  well  aware  that  Francois  was  not  to 
be  feared. 

At  that  moment  the  curtain  of  the  tent  lifted,  and 
little  Bill  Sinclair  limped  in.  He  was  a  favourite 
with  La  Certe,  who  made  room  for  him,  and  at  once 
offered  him  the  pipe,  but  Billy  declined. 

"  No,  thank  you.  La  Certe.  I  have  not  learned  to 
smoke  yet." 

"  Ha !  you  did  not  begin  young  enough,"  said 
the  half-breed,  glancing  proudly  at  his  own  off- 
spring. 

We  may  explain  here  once  for  all  that,  although 
he  had  lived  long  enough  in  the  colony  to  under- 
stand French,  Billie  spoke  to  his  mend  in  English, 
and  that,  although  La  Certe  undf^rstood  English,  he 
preferred  to  speak  in  French. 

"  What  have  you  been  doing  ? "  he  asked,  when 
the  boy  had  seated  himself 

"  I  Ve  been  shooting  at  a  mark  with  my  bow  and 
arrow — brother  Archie,  made  it  for  me." 

"  Let  me  see — yes,  it  is  verv  well  made.  Where 
is  brother  Anhie  ? " 

"  Gone  after  the  buffalo." 

"  What !— on  a  horse  ? " 

"  He  could  not  go  very  well  after  them  on  foot — 
could  he  ?"  replied  the  boy  quietly.  "  Dan  Davidson 
lent  him  a  horse,  but  not  a  gun.  He  said  that 
Archie  was  tno  your.g  to  use  a  gun  on  horseback, 


(3 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


183 


lowever, 
s  not  to 

ted,  and 
ivourite 
at  onco 

rned  to 

1,"  said 
5vn  off- 

though 
under- 
nglish, 
ish,  he 

,  when 

w  and 

Where 


bot — 

idson 

that 

back, 


and  that  he  might  shoot  some  of  the  people  instead 
of  the  buffalo,  or  burst  his  gun,  or  fall  off.  Bat  / 
don't  think  so.  Archie  can  do  anything.  I  know, 
for  I  've  seen  him  do  it." 

"  And  so  he  has  left  you  in  camp  all  by  yourself. 
What  a  shame,  BilHe ! " 

"No,  Francois,  it  is  not  a  shame.  Would  you 
have  me  keep  him  from  the  fun  just  because  I  can't 
go  ?     That  would  indeed  be  a  shame,  wouldn't  it  ? " 

"  Well,  perhaps  you  're  right,  Billie." 

"  I  know  I  'm  right,"  returned  the  boy,  with  a  de- 
cision of  tone  that  would  have  been  offensive  if  it 
had  not  been  accompanied  with  a  look  of  straight- 
forward gentleness  that  disarmed  resentment.  "  But, 
I  say,  Fran9ois,  why  are  you  not  out  with  the 
rest?" 

"Oh,  because — because — Well,  you  know,  my 
horse  is  tired,  and — and,  I  'm  not  quite  sure  that 
the  buffalo  really  have  been  seen  as  near  as  they 
say.  And  I  can  go  to-morrow  just  as  well.  You 
see,  Billie,  there  is  no  need  to  hurry  oneself." 

"No,  I  don't  see  that.  I  think  there's  always 
need  for  hurry,  specially  with  men  like  you.  I  know 
the  reason  you  don't  go  out  better  than  yourself, 
Frangois." 

"  Yes — what  is  it  ? "  asked  iihe  half-breed  with  a 
slight  laugh. 

"  It 's  laziness.  That 's  what  it  is,  and  you  should 
be  ashamed  of  yourself." 


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184 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNEKS  :  A  TALE 


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The  large  mild  eyes  and  low  voice,  and  pale 
earnest  face  of  the  plain-spoken  invalid  were  such 
that  it  would  have  been  impossible  for  any  one  to  be 
offended  with  him,  much  less  La  Certe,  whose  spirit 
of  indignation  it  was  almost  impossible  to  arouse. 
He  winced  a  little  at  the  home-thrust,  however, 
because  he  knew  it  to  be  true. 

"  You  're  hard  on  me.  Little  Bill,"  he  said  with  a 
benignant  look,  as  he  picked  a  stick  from  the  fire 
and  inserted  its  glowing  end  in  his  pipe. 

"  No,  I  'm  not  hard,"  returned  the  boy  gravely. 
Indeed  he  was  always  grave,  and  seldom  laughed 
though  he  sometimes  smiled  faintly  at  the  jokes  and 
quips  of  his  volatile  brother  and  Fred  Jenkins  the 
seaman :  "  I  'm  not  half  hard  enough,"  he  continued ; 
"  I  like  you,  rran9ois,  and  that 's  the  reason  why  I 
scold  you  and  try  to  get  you  to  mend.  I  don't  think 
there 's  such  a  lazy  man  in  the  whole  Settlement  as 
you.  You  would  rather  sit  and  smoke  and  stuff 
yourself  with  pork  all  day  than  take  the  trouble  to 
saddle  your  horse  and  get  your  gun  and  go  out  with 
the  rest.     Why  are  you  so  lazy,  Franqois  ? " 

"  I  'm  sure  I  don't  know,  Little  Bill,  unless  it  be 
that  I  'm  born  to  be  lazy.  Other  people  are  born, 
I  suppose,  to  be  active  nnd  energetic.  They  like 
activity  and  energy,  and  so  they  do  it.  I  like  repose 
aud  quiet,  and — so  I  do  that.  Not  much  difference 
after  all !    We  both  do  what  we  like  best ! " 

"  Little   Bill   was   perplexed.      Although   philo- 


K* 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


185 


sophical  in  tendency  he  had  not  had  sufficient  ex- 
perience in  sophistical  reasoning  to  enable  him  to 
disentangle  the  sinuosities  of  bad  logic.  But  he 
was  a  resolute  little  fellow,  and  not  easily  quelled. 

"  What  would  happen,"  he  asked,  "  if  everybody 
in  the  world  did  as  you  do  ? " 

"  Well,  I  suppose  everybody  would  enjoy  them- 
selves. There  would  be  no  more  fightings  or  wars, 
or  any  trouble  of  that  sort,  if  everybody  would 
only  take  things  easy  and  smoke  the  pipe  of 
peace." 

"Hm!  I  don't  know  about  that,"  returned  the 
boy,  doubtfully ;  "  but  I  'm  quite  sure  there  would 
not  be  much  pemmican  in  Eed  Eiver  this  winter  if 
all  the  hunters  were  like  you.  I  wonder  you're 
not  ashamed,  Francois.  Sometimes  I  think  that 
you  're  not  worth  caring  about ;  but  I  can't  help  it, 
you  know — we  can't  force  our  likings  one  way  or 
other." 

La  Certe  was  a  good  deal  taken  aback.  He  was 
not  indeed  unaccustomed  to  plain  speaking,  and  to 
the  receipt  of  gratuitous  abuse ;  but  his  experience 
invariably  was  to  associate  both  with  more  or  less 
of  a  stern  voice  and  a  frowning  brow.  To  receive 
both  in  a  soft  voice  from  a  delicate  meek-faced 
child,  who  at  the  same  time  professed  to  like  him, 
was  a  complete  novelty  which  puzzled  him  not  a 
little. 

After  a  few  minutes'  profound  consideration,  he 


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3 

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fe-l  1 


:;■■  i   ; 


H 


186 


THE  Buffalo  runners  :  a  tale 


put  out  his  pipe  and  arose  quickly  with  something 
like  an  appearance  of  firmness  in  his  look  and 
bearing. 

Slowfoot,  whose  utter  ignorance  of  both  French 
and  English  prevented  her  understanding  the  drift 
of  the  recent  conversation,  was  almost  startled  by 
the  unfamiliar  action  of  her  lord. 

"  Where  go  you  ? "  she  asked. 

"  To  follow  the  buffalo,"  answered  La  Certe,  with 
all  the  dignity  of  a  man  bursting  with  good  re- 
solutions. 

"  Are  you  ill  ? "  asked  his  wife,  anxiously. 

To  this  he  vouchsafed  no  reply,  as  he  raised  the 
curtain  and  went  out. 

Little  Bill  also  went  out,  and,  sitting  down  on  a 
package,  watched  him  with  his  large  solemn  eyes, 
but  said  never  a  word  until  the  half-breed  had 
loaded  his  gun  and  mounted  his  horse.  Then  he 
said  :  "  Good  luck  to  you,  Frangois ! " 

La  Certe  did  not  speak,  but  with  a  grave  nod  of 
his  head  rode  slowly  out  of  the  camp.  Little  Bill 
regarded  him  for  a  moment.  He  had  his  bow  and  a 
blunt-headed  arrow  in  his  hand  at  the  time.  Fitting 
the  latter  hastily  to  the  bow  he  took  a  rapid  shot 
at  the  retreating  horseman.  The  arrow  sped  well. 
It  descended  on  the  flank  of  the  horse  with  con- 
siderable force,  and,  bounding  off,  fell  to  the  ground. 
The  result  was  that  the  horse,  to  La  Certe's  un- 
utterable surprise,  made  a  sudden  demivolt  into  the 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


187 


nething 
ok  and 

French 
he  drift 
led  by 


ie,  with 
Dod  re- 


led  the 

n  on  a 
ti  eyes, 
3d  had 
hen  he 

Qod  of 
e  Bill 
and  a 
fitting 
d  shot 
I  well. 
I  con- 
round. 
s  un- 
bo  the 


air — without  the  usual  persuasion — almost  unseated 
its  rider,  and  fled  over  the  prairie  like  a  thing 
possessed!  ^ 

A  faint  smile  ruffled  the  solemnity  of  Little  Bill 
at  this,  but  it  vanished  when  he  heard  a  low 
chuck:  e  behind  him.  Wheeling  round,  he  stood 
face  to  face  with  Slovvfoot,  whose  mouth  was  ex- 
panded from  ear  to  ear. 

"  Clever  boy ! "  she  said,  patting  him  on  the  back, 
''  come  into  the  tent  and  have  some  grub." 

She  said  this  in  the  Cree  language,  which  the  boy 
did  not  understand,  but  he  understood  well  enough 
the  signs  with  which  the  invitation  was  accom- 
panied. Thanking  her  with  an  eloquent  look,  he 
re-entered  the  tent  aicng  with  her. 


1 


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J 

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188 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

ADVENTURES  OF  AROHIE  AND  THE  SEAMAN. 

Meanwhile  the  buffalo  hunt  progressed  favour- 
ably, and  the  slaughter  of  animals  was  considerablb. 

But  there  were  two  members  of  that  hunt  whose 
proceedings  were  not  in  exact  accord  with  the  habits 
and  laws  of  the  chase,  as  usually  conducted  on  the 
Eed  Eiver  plains.  These  were  the  seaman  Jenkins 
and  Archie  Sinclair. 

A  mutual  attachment  having  sprung  up  between 
these  two,  they  had  arranged  to  keep  together 
during  the  chase;  and  when  the  signal  for  attack 
was  given  by  Dechamp,  as  before  related,  they  had 
"  set  sail,"  according  to  Jenkins,  fairly  well  with  the 
rest.  But  they  had  not  gone  more  than  a  few 
hundred  yards  when  the  boy  observed  that  his 
nautical  friend  was  hauling  at  both  reins  furiously, 
as  if  desirous  of  stopping  his  horse.  Having  a  gun 
in  one  hand  he  found  the  operation  difficult. 

Archie  therefore  reined  in  a  little. 

"  Bad  luck  to  it ! "  growled  Jenkins,  as  his  young 
friend  drew  near,  "the  jaws  o'  this  craft  seem  to 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


189 


be  made  o'  cast-iron,  but  I'll  bring  him  to  if  I 
should  haul  my  arms  out  o'  the  sockets.  Heave-to, 
my  lad !  Maybe  he  '11  be  willin*  to  follow  a  good 
example." 

Archie  pulled  up,  and,  as  the  seaman  had  hoped, 
the  hard-mouthed  steed  stopped,  while  the  mad- 
dened buffalo  an^  the  almost  as  much  maddened 
hunters  went  thundering  on,  and  were  soon  far  ahead 
of  them. 

"What's  wrong,  Jenkins?"  asked  Archie,  on 
seeing  the  sailor  dismount. 

"  Not  much,  lad ;  only  I  want  to  take  a  haul  at 
the  main  brace.  Here,  hold  my  gun  a  bit,  like  a 
good  chap  ;  the  saddle,  you  see,  ain't  all  right,  an'  if 
it  was  to  slew  round,  you  know,  I  'd  be  overboard  in 
a  jiffy.  There,  that's  all  right.  Now,  we'll  up 
anchor,  an'  off  again.  I  know  now  that  the  right  way 
to  git  on  board  is  by  the  port  side.  When  I  started 
from  Eed  Eiver  I  was  goin'  to  climb  up  on  the 
starboard  side,  but  Dan  Davidson  kep*  me  right — 
though  he  had  a  good  laugh  at  me.  All  right  now. 
Hand  me  the  gun." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say,  Jenkins,  that  you  never 
got  on  a  horse  till  you  came  to  Eed  Eiver  ? "  asked 
Archie,  with  a  laugh,  as  they  galloped  off  in  p'irsuit 
of  the  hunters,  who  were  almost  out  of  sight  by 
that  time. 

"  Well,  you  've  no  occasion  to  laugh,  lad,"  returned 
the  seaman.    "  I  've  bin  at  sea  ever  since  I  was  a 


5 

2 

3 

'!.3 


190 


TIIK  IJUFFALO  UUNNEKS  :    A  TALK 


:M 


;|l 


,1 


small  shaver,  scarce  half  as  long  as  a  handspike,  so  I 
ain't  had  many  opportunities,  dee  see,  for  we  don't 
have  cavalry  at  sea,  a^"  a  rule — always  exceptin'  the 
horse  marines." 

"  Then  I  'm  afraid  you  '11  find  runnin'  the  buffalo 
somewhat  difficult,"  returned  the  boy.  "  Not  that  I 
know  anything  about  it  myself,  for  this  is  the  first 
time  I  've  been  out ;  an'  even  now  Dan  won't  let  me 
use  a  gun ;  but  I  've  often  heard  the  men  talkin' 
about  it !  an'  some  o'  them  have  complained  that 
they  have  found  it  uncommon  difficult  to  load  when 
at  full  gallop — specially  when  the  horse  is  hard  in 
the  mouth." 

"  I  make  no  manner  o'  doubt  you  're  right,  lad, 
but  I  've  got  my  sea-legs  on  now,  so  to  speak ;  least- 
wise I  've  got  used  to  ridin'  in  the  trip  out  here,  as 
well  as  used  to  steerin'  wi'  the  tiller-ropes  in  front, 
which  seems  to  me  right  in  the  teeth  o'  natur', 
though  I  couldn't  see  how  it  could  well  be  otherwise. 
But  I  confess  that  my  chief  difficulty  is  the  ord- 
nance, for  it  interferes  a  good  deal  wi'  the  steer- 
in'.  Hows'ever — 'never  ventur'  never  win,'  you 
know.  I  never  expected  to  take  up  a  noo  pur- 
fession  without  some  trouble." 

As  he  spoke,  the  seaman's  horse — a  large  brown 
chestnut — put  its  foot  in  a  hole,  and  plunged 
forward  with  great  violence,  barely  escaping  a 
fall. 

"  Hold  on ! "  shouted  Archie  in  alarm. 


OF  TllK  UED  mVEU  PLAINS. 


191 


"  Hold  on  it  is ! "  sang  out  the  sailor  in  reply. 

And  hold  on  it  was,  for  he  had  the  chestnut 
round  the  neck  with  both  arms.  Indeed  he  was 
sitting,  or  lying,  on  its  neck  altogether. 

"It  ain't  an  easy  job,"  he  gasped,  while  he  strug- 
gled to  regain  the  saddle,  "when  a  fellow  gets  hove 
on  to  the  bowsprit  this  way,  to  git  fairly  back  on 
the  main-deck  again.  But  a  Jenkins  never  was 
beaten  in  fair  fight.  That 's  all  right.  Now  then, 
Archie,  you  're  an  obleegin'  cove.  Do  git  down  an' 
pick  up  the  gun  for  me.  You  see,  if  I  git  down 
it's  a  try  in*  job  to  get  up  again — the  side  o'  this 
here  craft  bein'  so  steep  an'  so  high  out  o'  the  water. 
Thank'ee ;  why,  boy,  you  jump  down  an'  up  like  a 
powder-monkey.     It  ain't  broke,  is  it  ? " 

"  No.  It  seems  all  right,"  answered  the  boy,  as 
he  handed  the  gun  to  its  owner.  "  But  if  you  let 
it  go  like  that  often,  it  won't  be  much  worth  when 
the  run 's  over." 

"  Let  it  go,  boy  ? "  repeated  the  sailor.  "  It  was 
either  let  it  or  myself  go,  an'  when  it  comes  to  a 
toss  up  o'  that  sort,  Fred  Jenkins  knows  how  to 
look  arter  number  one." 

It  will  be  seen  from  all  this  that  our  seaman  was 
not  quite  so  much  at  home  on  the  prairie  as  on  the 
sea.  Indeed,  if  the  expression  be  permissible,  he 
was  very  much  at  sea  on  that  undulating  plain,  and 
did  not  take  so  kindly  to  the  green  waves  of  the 
rolling  prairie  as  to  the  heaving  billows   of  the 


lli 


1'^ 
At 

3 


'Z 


Mi 

it 

'1.3 


192 


THE  P.UFFALO  RUNNERS:  A  TALE 


restless  ocean ;  but,  as  Archie  remarked,  ho  was 
fast  getting  broke  in. 

The  incidents  which  we  have  mentioned,  however, 
were  but  the  commencement  of  a  series  of  disasters 
to  poor  Jenkins,  which  went  far  to  cure  him  of  a 
desire  to  excel  in  the  "  noo  purfession,"  and  to  in- 
duce a  somewhat  violent  longing  for  a  return  to  his 
first  love,  the  ocean. 

"  I  can't  think  what  ever  could  have  made  you 
want  to  come  out  here,"  said  Archie,  as  they  con- 
tinued to  follow  up  the  still  distant  hunttrs. 

"  What  was  it  made  yourself  want  to  come  out, 
lad  ? "  asked  the  sailor. 

"It  wasn't  me  that  wanted  to  come.  It  was 
father,  you  know,  an'  of  course  I  had  to  follow," 
said  the  boy  in  a  tone  which  induced  his  friend  to 
say  hastily,  and  in  a  tone  of  sympathy — 

"  Ah,  poor  lad,  I  forgot  you  was  a  orphing.  Well, 
you  see,  I  think  it  must  ha'  bin  a  love  o'  change 
or  a  love  o'  discontent,  or  suthin'  o'  that  sort,  as 
brought  me  cruising  in  these  here  waters,  for  I 
can't  say  what  else  it  was.  You  see  I  was  born  a 
sort  o'  ro — o " 

"  Look  out !  a  badger  hole ! "  shouted  the  boy. 

His  warning  would  have  been  too  late,  but  the 
chestnut  fortunately  leaped  over  the  danger  instead 
of  stumbling  into  it,  and  its  rider  was  only  partially 
shaken  out  of  his  seat. 

"It's  well,"  he  said,  when  fairly  settled  down 


again 


OF  THE  PKD  UIVEU  PLAINS. 


193 


again  to  an  easy  gallop,  "  that  the  tiller-ropes  are 
stout  else  I'd  ha'  bin  over  the  starn  this  time  instead 
of  out  on  the  bowsprit.  Let  me  see,  what  was  I 
sayin'of?" 

"  Somethin'  about  your  bein'  born  a  sort  of  '  ro — 

— 0 ,'  though  what  that  may  be   I   haven't  a 

notion." 

"  Ah !  jist  80 — I  was  born  a  sort  o'  rover  (when 
this  long-legged  brute  took  the  badger-hole),  an' 
I  've  bin  to  every  quarter  o'  the  globe  a'most,  but 
if  I  'd  lived  to  the  age  o'  Methooslum  I  'd  never  ha' 
thought  o'  comin'  here, — for  the  good  reason  that  I 
knowed  nothin'  o'  its  existence, — if  I  hadn't  by 
chance  in  a  furrin  port  fallen  in  wi'  Andr^  Morel, 
an'  took  an  uncommon  fancy  to  him.  You  see,  at 
the  time,  I  was — well,  I  was  no  better  nor  I  should 
be ;  p'ra'ps  a  deal  wuss,  an'  Morel  he  meets  me,  an' 
says — •  Hallo,  my  lad,'  says  he,  *  where  away  ? ' 

"  I  looked  at  him  gruff-like  a  moment  or  two,  for 
it  seemed  to  me  he  was  raither  too  familiar  for  a 
stranger,  but  he 's  got  such  a  pleasant,  hearty  look 
with  him — as  you  know — that  I  couldn't  feel  riled 
with  'im,  so  '  I  'm  goin'  on  the  spree,'  says  I. 

"'AH  right,'  says  he,  *I'm  with  ee,  lad.  D'ye 
know  the  town  ? ' 

" '  No  more  than  a  Mother  Carey's  chicken,'  says  I. 

" '  Come  along,  then,*  says  he ;  *  I  '11  tak'  ee  to  a 
fust-rate  shop.' 

"So  off  we  went  arm  in  arm  as  thick  as  two 

'  N 


> 

5 

3 

Z 

a 

.J 

!■* 
I* 

;3 


194 


THE  BUFFALO  KUNNERS ;  A  TALE 


M 


peas,  an'  after  passin'  through  two  or  three  streets 
he  turns  into  a  shop  that  smelt  strong  o'  coffee. 

"'Hallo!  mate,'  says  I,  'you've  made  some  sort 
o'  mistake.  This  here  ain't  the  right  sort  o' 
shop.' 

" '  0  yes,  it  is,'  says  he,  smilin',  quite  affable- like. 
'  The  best  o'  tipple  here,  an'  cheap  too.  Come  along. 
I've  got  somethin'  very  partikler  to  say  to  you. 
Look  here,  waiter — two  cups  o'  coffee,  hot  an'  strong, 
some  buttered  toast,  an'  no  end  o'  buns,  etceterer.' 

"  Wi'  that  he  led  me  to  a  seat,  an'  we  sat  down. 
I  was  so  took  aback  an'  amused  that  I  waited  to 
see  what  would  foller  an'  what  he  'd  got  to  say  that 
was  so  partikler — but,  I  say,  Archie,  them  buffalo 
runners  has  gob  the  wind  o'  us,  an'  are  showin'  us 
their  heels,  I  fear." 

"Never  fear,"  returned  the  boy,  rising  in  his 
stirrups  and  shading  his  eyes  to  look  ahead.  They 
do  seem  to  be  leavin'  us  a  bit,  but  you  see  by  the 
dust  that  the  buffalo  are  holdin'  away  to  the  right, 
so  if  we  keep  still  more  to  the  right  an'  cut  round 
that  knoll,  I  think  we  '11  be  safe  to  catch  them  up. 
They're  doin'  good  work,  as  the  carcases  we've 
passed  and  the  rattle  o'  shots  clearly  show.  But 
get  on  wi'  your  story,  Jenkins." 

"  Well,  it  ain't  much  of  a  story,  lad.  What  Morel 
had  to  say  was  that  he  'd  arranged  wi'  an  agent  o' 
Lord  Selkirk  to  come  out  to  this  country;  an'  he 
was  goin'  cut  wi'  a  lot  o'  hi?  relations,  an'  was 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


195 


beatin'  up  for  a  few  good  hands,  an'  he  liked  the 
look  0*  me,  an*  would  I  agree  to  go  wi'  him  ? 

"  Well,  as  you  may  believe,  this  was  a  poser,  an* 
I  said  I  'd  think  over  it,  an'  let  him  knov/  nexv  day. 
You  see,  I  didn't  want  to  seem  to  jump  at  it  too 
eager-like,  though  I  liked  the  notion,  an'  I  had 
neither  wife,  nor  sweetheart,  nor  father  or  mother, 
to  think  about,  for  I'm  a  orphing,  you  see,  like 
yourself,  Archie — only  a  somewhat  bigger  one. 

"  Well,  when  we  'd  finished  all  the  coffee,  an'  all 
the  buns,  an'  all  the  etceterers,  he  began  to  advise 
me  not  to  ha'  nothin'  more  to  do  wi'  grog-shops.  I 
couldn't  tell  ee  the  half  o'  what  he  said — no,  nor 
the  quarter — but  he  made  such  a  impression  on  me 
that  I  was  more  than  half-convinced.  To  say  truth, 
I  was  so  choke-full ' '  coffee  an'  buns,  an'  etceterers, 
that  I  don't  believe  I  could  ha'  swallowed  another 
drop  o'  liquor. 

"  *  Where  are  ye  goin'  now  ? '  says  he,  when  we  'd 
done. 

"  *  Back  to  my  ship,'  says  I. 

"'Come  an'  ha'  tea  to-morrow  wi'  me  an*  my 
sister,'  says  he,  *  an'  we  '11  have  another  talk  about 
Eupert's  Land.' 

" '  I  will,'  says  I. 

" '  Six  o'clock,  sharp,'  says  he. 

" '  Sharp 's  the  word,'  says  I. 

"  An',  sure  enough,  I  went  to  his  house  sharp  to 
time  next  day,  an'  there  1  found  liim  an'  his  sister. 


nil 

13 


?■' 


196 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


I  ! 


I  ! 


She  was  as  pretty  a  craft  as  I  ever  set  eyes  on,  wi' 
a  modest  look  an'  long  fair  ringlets — ^just  borderin' 
on  nineteen  or  thereaway — but  you  know  her, 
Archie,  so  I  needn't  say  no  more." 

"  What !  is  that  the  same  woman  that  '3  keeping 
house  for  him  now  in  Eed  Eiver  ? " 

"  Woman!"  repeated  the  sailor,  vehemently;  "  she's 
not  a  woman — she 's  a  angel  is  Elise  Morel.  Don't 
speak  disrespectful  of  her,  lad." 

"  I  won't,"  returned  Archie  with  a  laugh ;  "  but 
what  was  the  upshot  of  it  all  ? " 

"  The  upshot  of  it,"  answered  the  seaman, "  was 
that  I  've  never  touched  a  drop  0'  strong  drink  from 
that  day  to  this,  an'  that  I  'm  now  blown  entirely 
out  0'  my  old  courses,  an'  am  cruisin'  arter  the 
buffalo  on  the  plains  o'  Eupert's  Land." 

At  this  point,  their  minds  being  set  free  from  the 
conbiileration  of  past  history,  they  made  the  dis- 
covery that  the  buHalo  runners  were  nowhere  to 
be  seen  on  the  horizon,  and  that  they  themselves 
were  lost  on  the  grassy  sea. 

"Y/hat  shall  we  do?"  said  the  boy,  when  they 
had  pulled  up  to  consider  their  situation.  "You 
see,  although  I  came  out  here  a  good  while  be- 
fore you  did,"  he  added,  half  apologetically,  "  I  've 
never  been  out  on  the  plains  without  a  guide,  and 
don't  know  a  bit  how  to  find  the  way  back  to 
camp.  The  prairie  is  almost  as  bad  as  the  sea 
you  're  so  fond  of,  with  a  clear  horizon  all  round. 


or  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


197 


and  nothing  worth  speaking  of  to  guide  us.  An'  as 
you  have  never  been  in  the  plains  before,  of  course 
you  know  nothing.  In  short,  Jenkins,  I  greatly 
fear  that  we  are  lost !  AVhy,  what  are  you  grinning 
at?" 

The  terminal  question  was  induced  by  the  fact 
that  the  tall  seaman  was  looking  down  at  his 
anxious  companion  with  a  broad  smile  on  his  hand- 
some sunburnt  countenance. 

"  So  we  *re  lost,  are  we,  Archie  ? "  he  said,  "  like 
two  sweet  babes  on  the  prairie  instead  of  in  the 
woods.  An*  you  think  I  knows  nothin'.  Well, 
p'r'aps  I  don't  know  much,  but  you  should  re- 
member, lad,  that  an  old  salt  wi'  a  compass  in  his 
wes'kit-pocket  is  not  the  man  to  lose  his  reck'nin'. 
I've  got  one  here  as  '11  put  us  all  right  on  that 
score,  for  I  was  careful  to  take  my  bearin's  when 
we  set  sail,  an'  I've  been  keepin'  an  eye  on  our 
course  all  the  way.  Make  your  mind  easy,  my 
boy." 

So  saying,  the  sailor  pulled  out  the  compass  re- 
ferred to,  and  consulted  it  Then  he  pulled  out  a 
watch  of  the  warming-pan  type,  which  he  styled  a 
chronometer,  and  consulted  that  also ;  after  which 
he  looked  up  at  the  clouds — seamanlike — and 
round  the  horizon,  especially  to  windward,  if  we 
may  speak  of  such  a  quarter  in  reference  to  a  day 
that  was  almost  quite  calm. 

"  Now,  Archie,  boy,  the  upshot  o*  my  cogitations 


n 

>* 

y 

m 

m 

3 

,sJ 
.J 

:.3 


i! 


I 


! 


I  >  I 


1  !    ■ 


[I  > 


!1.' 


198 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


is  that  with  a  light  breeze  on  our  starboard  quarter, 
a  clear  sky  overhead,  an'  a  clear  conscience  within, 
you  and  I  had  better  hold  on  our  course  for  a 
little  longer,  and  see  whether  we  can't  overhaul 
the  runners.  If  we  succeed,  good  and  well.  If 
not,  why  'bout  ship,  and  homeward-bound  is  the 
sailin'  orders.    What  say  'ee,  lad  ? " 

"I  say  whatever  you  say,  Jenkins.  If  you're 
sure  o'  the  way  back,  as  I've  no  doubt  you  are, 
why,  there  couldn't  be  greater  fun  than  to  go  after 
the  buffalo  on  our  own  account.  And — I  say,  look 
there !  Isn't  that  solnethin'  like  them  on  the  top  o' 
the  far  bluff  yonder  ?  A  fellow  like  you,  wi'  sharp 
sailor-eyes,  ought  to  be  able  to  make  them  out." 

"You  forget,  lad,  that  I  ain't  a  buffalo  runner, 
an'  don't  know  the  cut  o'  the  brutes'  jibs  yet.  It 
does  look  like  somethin'.  Come,  we  '11  go  an'  see." 
Putting  their  horses  to  the  gallop,  the  two  curiously 
matched  friends,  taking  advantage  of  every  knoll 
and  hollow,  succeeded  in  getting  sufficiently  near 
to  perceive  that  a  small  herd  was  grazing  quietly  in 
a  grassy  bottom  between  two  prairie  waves.  They 
halted  at  once  for  consultation. 

"  Now,  then,  Archie,"  said  the  sailor,  examining 
the  priming  of  his  gun,  "  here  we  are  at  last,  agoin' 
to  begin  a  pitched  battle.  There 's  this  to  be  said 
for  us,  that  neither  you  nor  me  knows  rightly  how 
to  go  to  work,  both  on  us  havin'  up  to  this  time  bin 
trained,  so  to  speak,  on  hearsay.    But  what  o'  that  ? 


clo^ 

on 

thj 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


199 


111  the  language  o'  the  immortial  Nelson,  *  England 
expec's  every  man  to  do  his  dooty.'  Now  it  seems 
to  me  my  dooty  on  the  present  occasion  is  to  lay 
myself  alongside  of  a  buffalo  an'  blaze  away !  Isn't 
that  the  order  o'  battle  ? 

"  Yes.  But  don't  go  for  a  bull,  and  don't  go  too 
close  for  fear  he  turns  sharp  round  an'  catches  you 
on  his  horns.  You  know  the  bulls  are  apt  to  do 
that  sometimes." 

"  Trust  me,  lad,  I  '11  keep  clear  o'  the  bulls." 

"And  you  understand  how  to  re-load?"  asked 
the  boy. 

"0  yes,  ail  right.  Dan  put  me  thro'  the  gun- 
nery practice  on  the  way  out,  an'  I  went  through 
it  creditably.  Only  a  slight  hitch  now  and  then. 
Two  or  three  balls  in  the  mouth  ready  to  spit 
into  the  gun " 

"  Not  all  at  once,  though,  Jenkins." 

"  In  course  not,  lad :  one  at  a  time ;  no  ramming ; 
hit  the  butt  on  the  saddle ;  blaze  away ;  one  down, 
another  come  on — eh  ? " 

"That's  it,"  said  Archie,  eager  for  the  fray. 
"  How  I  wish  Dan  had  let  me  have  a  gun ! " 

"  Safer  not,  lad.  An'  keep  well  in  rear,  for  I  may 
be  apt  to  fire  wide  in  the  heat  of  action." 

With  this  final  caution,  the  mariner  put  his  gun 
on  full  cock,  shook  the  reins,  and  trotted  quietly 
forward  until  he  saw  that  the  buffalo  had  observed 
him.      Then,  as    he  afterwards  expressed    it,  he 


0 

s 

8 

m 

;.3 


200 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


ill 


It ' 


I 


II 


ill 
ji" 


:•' 


"  clapped  on  all  sail — stu'n's'ls  alow  and  aloft,  and 
sky-scrapers — and  went  into  action  like  a  true  blue 
British  tar,  with  little  Archie  Sinclair  full  sail 
astern." 

He  did  not,  however,  come  out  of  action  with  as 
much  4clat  as  he  went  into  it,  but  justice  obliges  us 
to  admit  that  he  came  out  victorious. 

We  cannot  do  better  than  give  his  own  description 
of  that  action  as  related  beside  the  camp-fire  that 
night,  to  a  circle  of  admiring  friends. 

"  Well,  you  must  know,"  he  began,  after  finishing 
his  supper  and  lighting  his  pipe,  "that  long-legged 
frigate  o'  mine  that  Dan  calls  a  chestnut — though  a 
cocoanut  would  be  more  like  the  thing,  if  you  take 
size  into  account — ^he  's  as  keen  for  the  chase  as  a 
small  boy  arter  a  butterfly,  an'  before  I  could  say 
*  Jack  Eobinson,*  a'most,  he  had  me  into  the  middle 
o'  the  herd  an'  alongside  o'  the  big  bull.  Any  one 
could  tell  it  was  him,  in  spite  o'  the  dust  we  kicked 
up,  by  reason  o'  the  side-glance  o'  his  wicked  little 
eye,  his  big  hairy  fore'id,  an'  his  tail  stickin'  out 
stiff  like  a  crook'd  spankerboom. 

"  In  course  I  was  not  agoin'  to  fire  into  him,  so  I 
gave  the  frigate  a  dig  wi'  my  heels — tho'  I  'd  got  no 
irons  on  'em — an'  tried  to  shove  up  alongside  of  a 
fat  young  cow  as  was  skylarkin*  on  ahead.  As  we 
went  past  the  bull  he  made  a  vicious  dab  wi'  his 
horn,  and  caught  the  frigate  on  her  flank — right 
abaft  the  mizzen  chains,  like.  Whew !  you  should  ha' 


sqi 


,l':^X    ivrf  ■UMy-^'^ft'^T"." 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


201 


seen  what  a  sheer  she  made  right  away  to  star- 
board !  If  it  hadn't  bin  that  I  was  on  the  look-out, 
I  'd  ha'  bin  slap  overboard  that  time,  but  I  see'd  the 
squall  comin',  an',  seizin'  my  brute's  mane,  held  on 
like  a  monkey  wi'  hand  an'  leg. 

"  Weil,  before  I  knew  where  I  was,  the  cocoan — 
I  mean  the  chestnut,  had  me  alongside  the  cow.  I 
stuck  the  muzzle  a'most  into  her  ribs,  and  let  drive. 
Down  she  went  by  the  head,  fairly  scuttled,  an'  I 
could  hear  young  Archie  givin'  a  wild  cheer  astern." 

" '  That 's  the  way  to  go  it,  Jenkins ! '  he  yelled. 
*  Load  again.' 

"  But  it  was  easier  said  than  done,  I  can  tell  you. 
You  see,  I  've  bin  brought  up  to  cartridges  all  my 
life,  an'  the  change  to  pullin'  a  stopper  out  o'  a 
horn  wi'  your  teeth,  pourin*  the  powder  into  your 
left  hand,  wi'  the  gun  under  your  left  arm,  an'  the 
pitchin'  o'  the  frigate,  like  as  if  it  was  in  a  cross  sea, 
was  raither  perplexin'.  Hows'ever,  it  had  to  be 
done,  for  I  was  alongside  of  another  cow  in  a  jifly. 
I  nigh  knocked  out  two  o'  my  front  teeth  in  tryin' 
to  shove  the  stopper  in  my  mouth.  Then,  when  I 
was  pourin'  the  powder  into  my  hand,  I  as  near  as 
could  be  let  fall  the  gun,  which  caused  me  to  give 
a  sort  of  gasp  of  anxiety,  when  two  o'  the  three 
bullets  dropped  out  o'  my  mouth,  but  I  held  on  to 
the  third  wi'  my  teeth.  Just  then  a  puff  o'  wind 
blew  the  powder  out  o'  my  hand  into  the  buffalo's 
eyes,  causin'  her  to  bellow  like  a  fog-horn,  an* 


4J 

f  # 
v4 


202 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


•Hi 


II » 


lilH 


llil: 


I' 


,11!" 


obleegin'  me  to  pour  out  another  charge.  I  did  it 
hastily,  as  you  may  well  believe,  an*  about  three 
times  what  I  wanted  came  out.  Hows'ever,  I  lost 
a  deal  of  it  in  pourin*  it  into  the  gun ;  then  I  spat 
the  ball  in,  gettin*  another  nasty  rap  on  the  teeth 
as  I  did  so,  but  I  'd  bit  the  ball  so  that  it  stuck 
half-way  down. 

"It  was  no  time  to  think  o'  trifles.  I  gave  the 
butt  an  extra  bang  on  the  pommel  to  send  the  ball 
home,  shoved  tlie  muzzle  right  in  among  the  hair 
an*  pulled  the  trigger.  There  was  a  bang  that 
sounded  to  me  as  if  the  ship's  magazine  had  blown 
up.  It  was  followed  by  a  constellation  o'  fireworks 
and — Archie  Sinclair  must  tell  you  what  happened 
arter  that,  for  I  misremember  the  whole  on  it.  The 
fireworks  closed  the  scene  to  me." 

Archie,  nothing  loath,  and  with  glistening  eyes, 
took  up  the  narrative  at  this  point,  while  the  hero 
of  the  hour  rekindled  his  pipe. 

"  The  fact  is,"  he  said,  "  the  gun  had  burst — was 
blown  to  atoms ;  not  a  bit  o*  the  barrel  left,  and  a 
great  lump  o*  the  stock  struck  Jenkins  on  the  head, 
stunned  him,  and  tumbled  him  off  his  horse." 

("That  was  the  magazine  explosion  and  fire- 
works," explained  Jenkins.) 

"But  the  queer  thing  was,"  continued  Archie, 
"that  the  buffalo  fell  dead,  and,  on  examining  it, 
we  found  that  a  bit  o'  the  barrel  had  been  driven 
right  into  its  brain.*' 


pie| 

stoj 

on 

littl 

sol 


\ 


OF  THE  RED  RIVEH  PLAINS. 


203 


"  Ay,  boy,  but  it  was  queerer  still  that  none  o*  the 
pieces  struck  me  or  my  horse  'cept  that  bit  o'  the 
stock.  An'  I  'm  none  the  worse,  barriu'  this  lump 
on  the  head,  that  only  serves  to  cock  my  hat  a 
little  more  to  one  side  than  seems  becomin'  to  a 
sober-minded  man." 

"  We  were  soiTy  to  be  able  to  bring  away  so  little 
o'  the  meat,"  said  Archie,  with  the  gravity  of  an  old 
hunter ;  "  but,  you  see,  it  was  too  late  to  send  a  cart 
for  it  after  we  got  back." 

"Never  mind,"  said  Dan  Davidson,  when  the 
narrative  was  brought  to  a  close,  "  you  have  done 
very  well  for  a  beginning." 

"Moreover"  added  Fergus,  " it  iss  a  goot  feast  the 
wolves  will  be  havin'  on  the  plains  this  night,  an' 
so,  Archie,  I  '11  be  wishin'  ye  better  luck  next  time." 


.tj 


1 


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\ 


204 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNEKS  :  A  TALE 


til 


Hi 


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Ii  r 


lllii 


CHAPTEE    XIX. 

BRIGHT  HOPKS  TERMINATE  IN  FURIOUS  WAR. 

Turning  once  again  to  the  colony  at  Eed  Eiver, 
we  introduce  the  reader  to  the  Scotch  settlers  in 
the  autumn  of  the  year — at  a  time  when  there  was 
some  appearance  of  the  commencement  of  a  season 
of  prosperity,  after  all  the  troubles  that  had  befallen 
and  surrounded,  and  well-nigh  overwhelmed  them 
in  time  past. 

The  Davidson  and  M'Kay  families  had  re-estab- 
lished themselves  on  their  farms,  rebuilt  their  houses 
and  planted  their  fields,  and  splendid  crops  of  all 
kinds  were  now  flourishing,  ready  for  spade  and 
sickle. 

The  soil  was  found  to  be  excellent.  In  after  years, 
forty-fold  was  no  uncommon  return.  In  one  case, 
for  a  bushel  of  barley  sown,  fifty-six  bushels  were 
reaped;  and  from  a  bushel  of  seed  potatoes  were 
obtained  one  hundred  and  forty-five  bushels  !  In- 
dustry, however,  had  not  at  that  time  been  rewarded 
with  such  encouraging  results,  but  there  was 
sufficient  to  indicate  cheering  prospects  in  the  near 


pre] 

in 

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age 


OF  THE  RED  ItlVElt  PLAINS. 


205 


future,  and  to  gladden  the  hearts  of  the  pioneer 
settlers. 

As  a  good  number  of  these  had,  under  the  de- 
pressing influence  of  disappointment  and  failure 
in  the  past,  neglected  to  sow  extensively,  not  a  few 
families  were  forced  again  to  winter  at  Pembina, 
and  draw  their  supplies  from  the  chase  to  avoid 
consuming  all  the  seed  which  alone  ensured  them 
against  famine.  Among  these  were  the  Swiss 
families,  most  of  whom,  being  watch  and  clock 
makers,  pastry-cooks,  mechanics  and  musicians, 
were  not  well  adapted  for  agricultural  pursuits. 
Perhaps  they  were  as  ill  adapted  for  the  chase,  but 
seed  takes  time  to  sow  and  grow,  whereas  animals 
need  no  prolonged  nursing — at  least  from  man — 
and  are  quickly  killed  if  one  can  shoot. 

The  young  leader  of  the  Switzers,  however, 
Andr^  Morel,  soon  left  his  party  at  Pembina  under 
the  care  of  his  lieutenant,  and  returned  to  Red 
River  Settlement,  bent  on  mastering  the  details  of 
husbandry,  so  as  to  be  able  afterwards  to  direct  the 
energies  of  his  compatriots  into  a  more  profitable 
occupation  than  the  chase. 

For  this  purpose,  he  sought  and  obtained  employ- 
ment with  the  Davidsons  in  the  new  and  enlarged 
edition  of  Prairie  Cottage.  His  sister,  Elise,  was 
engaged  by  old  M'Kay  to  act  as  companion  and 
assistant  to  his  daughter  Elspie.  Both  the  curly- 
haired  Andrd  and  the  fair,  blue-eyed  Elise,  proved 


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206 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS:   A  TALE 


II' 


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to  be  invaluable  acquisitions  in  the  households  in 
which  they  had  found  a  home,  for  both  were  lively, 
intelligent  companions,  hard  workers  at  whatever 
they  undertook,  and  were  possessed  of  sweet  melo- 
dious voices.  Andr6  also  performed  on  the  violin, 
an  instrument  which  has  played  a  prominent  part 
in  the  wild  Nor'-West  ever  since  the  white  man 
set  down  his  foot  there. 

*What  do  you  think,  Elspie,  of  my  brother's 
plan,  of  taking  the  farm  just  below  this  one,  after 
he  has  had  enough  experience  to  be  able  to  work  it 
himself?"  asked  Elise. 

"  It  will  be  very  nice  to  have  him  settled  so  near 
us.    Do  you  think  he  will  take  the  whole  of  it  ? " 

"  I  think  so.  You  see,  the  terms  on  which  the 
Earl  has  granted  the  land  are  so  easy,  and  the 
supplies  of  goods,  oatmeal,  clothing,  and  farm  im- 
plements sent  us  so  generous,  that  Andr^  finds  he 
will  have  money  enough  ^^  enable  him  to  start. 
Then,  that  strong,  good-natured  seaman,  Fred 
Jenkins,  has  actually  agreed  to  serve  as  a  man 
on  the  farm  for  a  whole  year  for  nothing,  except, 
of  course,  his  food  and  lodging.  Isn't  it  generous 
of  him  ? " 

"  Do  you  know  why  he  is  going  to  serve  him  for 
nothing?"  asked  Elspie,  with  a  quick  look  and  smile. 

"  No — I  do  not,"  returned  fair  little  Elise  with  an 
innocent  look.     "  Do  you  ? " 

"0  no — of  course  I  don't;    I  can  only  guess," 


can 
«l 

"n| 
rear 


OF  TIIK  KEI)  KIVEU  PLAINS. 


207 


replied  her  companion  with  a  light  laugh.  "  Perhaps 
it  is  because  he  knows  his  services  as  a  farm  servant 
can't  be  worth  much  at  first." 

"There  you  are  wrong,"  returned  Elise,  stoutly. 
"  No  doubt  he  is  ignorant,  as  yet,  about  sowing  and 
reaping  and  the  like,  but  he  is  wonderfully  strong — 
just  like  a  giant  at  lifting  and  carrying — and  he  has 
become  quite  knowing  about  horses,  and  carting, 
and  such  things.  All  that  he  stipulates  for  is  that 
he  shall  board  in  our  house.  He  says  he  11  manage, 
bomehow,  to  make  enough  money  to  buy  all  the 
clothes  he  wants." 

"  What  a  delightful  kind  of  servant,"  said  Elspie, 
with  an  arch  look,  which  was  quite  thrown  away 
on  Elise,  "  and  so  disinterested  to  do  it  without  any 
reason." 

"  0  !  but  he  must  have  some  reason,  you  know," 
rejoined  Elise.  "  I  shouldn't  wonder  if  it  was  out 
of  gratitude  to  my  brother  who  was  very  kind  to 
him — so  he  says — the  first  time  they  met." 

"  Did  he  say  that  was  his  reason  ? "  asked  Elspie 
quickly. 

"  No,  he  did  not  say  so,  but  he  has  said  more  than 
once  that  he  feels  very  grateful  to  my  brother,  and 
it  has  just  occurred  to  me  that  that  may  be  his 
reason.     It  would  be  very  natural — wouldn't  it  ? " 

"  Oh,  very  natural ! — very  ! "  returned  the  other. 
"  But  d'  you  know,  Elise,  I  don't  like  your  brother's 
plan  at  all." 


81 
IP 

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208 


THE  BUFFALO  KUNNERS  :  A  TAIE 


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"No!  why?" 

"  Because,  don't  you  see,  foolish  girl,  that  it  will 
take  you  away  from  me  ?  You  will,  of  course,  want 
to  keep  house  for  your  brother,  and  I  have  become 
so  used  to  you,  short  though  our  intercourse  has 
been,  that  I  don't  see  how  I  can  get  on  at  all 
without  you  ? " 

"Never  mind,  Elspie,  dear.  It  will  be  a  long 
while  before  Andr^  is  ready  to  take  the  farm. 
Besides,  by  that  time,  you  know,  you  and  Dan  will 
be  married,  so  you  won't  miss  me  much — though  I 
confess  I  should  like  you  to  miss  me  a  little." 

Elspie  sighed  at  this  point.  "  I  suspect  that  our 
marriage  will  not  be  so  soon  as  you  think,  Elise," 
she  said.  "  Dan  has  tried  to  arrange  it  more  than 
once,  but  there  seems  to  be  a  fate  against  it,  for 
something  always  comes  in  the  way ! " 

"  Surely  nothing  will  happen  this  time,"  said  the 
sympathetic  Elise.  "  Everything  begins  to  prosper 
now.  The  crops  are  beautiful;  the  weather  is 
splendid;  the  house  is  ready  to  begin  to — all  the 
logs  are  cut  and  squared.  Your  father  is  quite 
willing,  and  Dan  wishing  for  the  day — what  more 
could  you  desire,  Elspie  ? " 

"  Nothing ;  all  seems  well,  but "    She  finished 

the  sentence  with  another  sigh. 

While  the  two  friends  were  thus  conversing  in 
the  dairy,  old  M'Kay  and  Dan  Davidson  were  talking 
on  the  same  subject  in  the  hall  of  Ben  Nevis. 


may 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


209 


"  It  iss  a  curious  fact,  Taniel,"  said  the  old  man, 
with  a  pleased  look,  "  that  it  wass  in  this  fery  room 
in  the  old  hoose  that  wass  burnt,  and  about  the  same 
time  of  the  year,  too,  that  you  would  be  speakin'  to 
me  about  this  fery  thing.  An'  I  do  not  think  that 
we  will  be  troubled  this  time  wi*  the  Nor'-Westers, 
whatever — though  wan  never  knows  what  a  tay 
may  bring  furth." 

"That  is  the  very  reason,  sir,"  said  Davidson, 
"  that  I  want  to  get  married  at  once,  so  that  if  any- 
thing does  happen  again  I  may  claim  the  right  to 
be  Elspie's  protector." 

"  Quite  right,  my  boy,  quite  right ;  though  I  must 
say  I  would  like  to  wait  till  a  real  munister  comes 
out;  for  although  Mr.  Sutherland  iss  a  fery  goot 
man,  an'  an  elder  too,  he  iss  not  chust  exactly  a 
munister,  you  know,  as  I  have  said  before.  But 
have  it  your  own  way.  Tan.  If  my  little  lass  is 
willin',  old  Tuncan  M'Kay  won't  stand  in  your 
way." 

That  night  the  inhabitants  of  Red  Eiver  lay  down 
to  sleep  in  comfort  and  to  dream,  perchance,  of  the 
coming,  tliough  long  delayed,  prosperity  that  had 
hitherto  so  often  eluded  their  grasp. 

Next  day  an  event  occurred  which  gave  the  poor 
settlers  new  cause  for  grief  amounting  almost  to 
despair. 

Dan  Davidson  and  Elspie  were  walking  on  the 
verandah  in  front  of  Ben  Nevis  at  the  time.    It  was 


210 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


M 


m 

mi 


ill! 


';"Ml 


a  warm  sunuy  afternoon.  All  around  looked  the 
picture  of  peace  and  prosperity. 

"  Does  it  not  seem,  Dan,  as  if  all  the  troubles  we 
have  gone  through  were  a  dark  dream — as  if  there 
never  had  been  any  reality  in  them  ?  "  said  Elspie. 

"  It  does  indeed  seem  so,"  responded  Dan,  "  and  I 
hope  and  trust  that  we  shall  henceforth  be  able  to 
think  of  them  as  nothing  more  than  a  troubled 
dream." 

"  What  iss  that  you  will  be  sayin*  about  troubled 
dreams  ? "  asked  old  M'Kay,  coming  out  of  the  house 
at  the  moment. 

"  We  were  just  saying,  daddy,  that  all  our  troubles 
seem " 

"Look  yonder.  Tan,"  interrupted  the  old  man, 
pointing  with  his  pipe-stem  to  a  certain  part  of  the 
heavens.  "What  iss  it  that  I  see  ?  A  queer  cloud, 
whatever!  I  don't  remember  seein'  such  a  solid 
cloud  as  that  in  all  my  experience." 

"  It  is  indeed  queer.  I  hope  it 's  not  what  Fred 
Jenkins  would  call  a  '  squall  brewin'  up,'  for  that 
wouldn't  improve  the  crops." 

"A  squall!"  exclaimed  Jenkins,  who  chanced 
to  come  round  the  corner  of  the  house  at  the 
moment,  with  a  spade  on  his  shoulder.  "  That 's 
never  a  squall — no,  nor  a  gale,  nor  a  simoon,  nor 
anything  else  o'  the  sort  that  I  ever  heard  of.  Why, 
it 's  growin'  bigger  an'  bigger ! " 

He  shaded  his  eyes  with  his  hand,  and  looked 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


211 


earnestly  at  the  object  in  question,  which  did  in- 
deed resemble  a  very  dense,  yet  not  a  black,  cloud. 
For  some  moments  the  four  spectators  gazed  in 
silence.  Then  old  M'Kay  suddenly  dropped  his 
pipe,  and  looked  at  Dan  v^^ith  an  expression  of 
intense  solemnity. 

"  It  iss  my  belief,"  he  said  in  a  hoarse  whisper, 
"  that  it  is  them  wee  deevils  the  grasshoppers ! " 

A  very  few  minutes  proved  old  M'Kay's  surmise 
to  be  correct.  Once  before,  the  colony  had  been 
devastated  by  this  plague,  and  the  memory  of  the 
result  was  enough  to  alarm  the  most  courageous 
among  the  settlers  who  had  experienced  the 
calamity,  though  the  new  arrivals,  being  ignorant, 
were  disposed  to  regard  the  visitation  lightly  at 
first.  M'Kay  himself  became  greatly  excited 
when  the  air  became  darkened  by  the  cloud, 
which,  ever  increasing  in  size,  rapidly  approached. 

*'  Haste  ye,  lads,"  he  cried  to  some  of  the  farm- 
servants  who  had  joined  the  group  on  the  verandah, 
"  get  your  spades,  picks,  an'  shovels.  Be  smart  now : 
it  is  not  possible  to  save  all  the  crops,  but  we  may 
try  to  save  the  garden,  whatever.     Follow  me ! " 

The  garden  referred  to  was  not  large  or  of  great 
importance,  but  it  was  a  favourite  hobby  of  the 
Highlander,  and,  at  the  time,  was  in  full  bloom, 
luxuriant  with  fruit,  flower,  and  vegetable.  To 
save  it  from  destruction  at  such  a  time,  M'Kay 
would  have  given  almost  anything^  and  have  gone 


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212 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


almost  any  lengths.  On  this  occasion,  not  knowing 
what  to  do,  yet  impelled  by  his  eagerness  to  do 
something,  he  adopted  measures  that  he  had  heard 
of  as  being  used  in  other  lands.  He  ordered  a 
trench  to  be  cut  and  filled  with  water  on  the  side 
of  his  garden  nearest  the  approaching  plague,  which 
might — if  thoroughly  carried  out — have  been  of 
some  use  against  wingless  grasshoppers  but  could 
be  of  no  use  whatever  against  a  flying  foe.  It 
would  have  taken  an  army  of  men  to  carry  out  such 
an  order  promptly,  and  his  men  perceived  this ;  but 
the  master  was  so  energetic,  so  violent  in  throwing 
off  his  coat  and  working  with  his  own  hand  at  pick 
and  shovel,  that  they  were  irresistibly  infected  with 
his  enthusiasm,  and  set  to  work. 

Old  Duncan,  did  not,  however,  wield  pick  or 
shovel  long.  He  was  too  excited  for  that.  He 
changed  from  one  thing  to  another  rapidly.  Fires 
were  to  be  kindled  along  the  line  of  defence,  and  he 
set  the  example  in  this  also.  Then  he  remembered 
that  blankets  and  other  drapery  had  been  used 
somewhere  with  great  effect  in  beating  back  the 
foe;  therefore  he  shouted  wildly  for  his  daughter 
and  Elise  Morel. 

"  Here  we  are,  father :  what  can  we  do  ?  " 
"Go,  fetch  out  all  the  blankets,  sheets,  table- 
cloths, an'  towels  in  the  house,  girls.     It  iss  neck 
or  nothin'  this  tay.     Be  smart,  now !    Take  men  to 
help  ye." 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


213 


Two  men  were  very  busy  there  piling  up  little 
heaps  of  firewood,  namely,  Dan  Davidson  and  Fred 
Jenkins.  What  more  natural  than  that  these  two, 
on  hearing  the  order  given  about  blankets  and 
table-cloths,  etc.,  should  quit  the  fires  and  follov/ 
Elspie  and  Elise  into  the  house ! 

In  the  first  bedroom  into  which  they  entered  they 
found  Arch'e  and  Billie  Sinclair,  the  latter  seated 
comfortably  in  an  arm-chair  close  to  a  window,  the 
former  wild  with  delight  at  the  suaden  demand  on 
all  his  energies.  For  Archie  had  been  one  of  the 
first  to  leap  to  the  w^ork  when  old  M'Kay  gave  the 
order.  Then  he  had  suddenly  recollected  his  little 
helpless  brother,  and  had  dashed  round  to  Prairie 
Cottage,  got  him  on  his  back,  run  with  him  to  Ben 
Nevis  Hall,  placed  him  as  we  have  seen  in  a  position 
to  view  the  field  of  battle,  and  then,  advising  him 
to  sit  quietly  there  and  enjoy  the  fun,  had  dashed 
down-stairs  to  resume  his  place  in  the  forefront  of 
battle ! 

He  had  run  up  again  for  a  moment  to  inquire 
how  Little  Bill  was  getting  on,  when  the  blanket 
and  sheet  searchers  found  them. 

"  All  right,"  he  exclaimed,  on  learning  what  they 
came  for ;  "  here  you  are.  Look  alive !  Don't  stir. 
Little  Bill." 

He  hurled  the  bedding  from  a  neighbouring  bed- 
stead as  he  spoke,  tore  several  blankets  from  the 
heap,  and  tumbled  rather  than  ran  down-stairs  with 


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TIE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


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them,  while  the  friends  he  had  left  behind  followed 
his  example. 

By  that  time  all  the  inmates  and  farm-servants 
of  Prairie  Cottage  had  assembled  at  Ben  Nevis  Hall, 
attracted  either  by  sympathy  or  curiosity  as  to  the 
amazing  fracas  which  old  M'Kay  was  creating.  Of 
course  they  entered  into  the  spirit  of  the  prepara- 
tions, so  that  when  the  enemy  at  last  descended  on 
them  they  found  the  garrison  ready.  But  the 
defenders  might  as  well  have  remained  quiet  and 
gone  to  their  beds. 

Night  was  drawing  near  at  the  time,  and  was, 
as  it  were,  precipitated  by  the  grasshoppers,  which 
darkened  the  whole  sky  with  what  appeared  to  be 
a  heavy  shower  of  snow. 

The  fires  were  lighted,  water  was  poured  into  the 
trench,  and  the  two  households  fought  with  blanket, 
sheet,  counterpane,  and  towel,  in  a  manner  that 
proved  the  courage  of  the  ancient  heroes  to  be  still 
slumbering  in  men  and  women  of  modern  days. 

But  what  could  courage  do  against  such  over- 
whelming odds  ?  Thousands  were  slaughtered.  Mil- 
lions pressed  on  behind. 

"  Don't  give  in,  lads,"  cried  the  heroic  and  despe- 
rate Highlander,  wielding  a  great  green  blanket  in  a 
way  that  might  have  roused  the  admiration  if  not 
the  envy  of  Ajax  himself.    "  Keep  it  up,  Jenkins ! " 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir ! "  responded  the  nautical  warrior,  as 
he  laid  about  him  with  an  enormous  buffalo  robe, 


OF  THE  KEL)  KIVER  PLAINS. 


215 


which  was  the  only  weapon  that  seemed  sufficiently 
suited  to  his  gigantic  frame ;  "  never  say  die  as  long 
as  there 's  a  shot  in  the  locker." 

Elise  stood  behind  him,  lost  in  admiration,  and 
giving  an  imbecile  flap  now  and  then  with  a  towel 
to  anything  that  happened  to  come  in  front  of 
her. 

Elspie  was  more  self-possessed.  She  tried  to 
wield  a  jack-towel  with  some  effect,  while  Dan, 
Fergus,  Duncan  junior,  Bourassin,  Andr^  Morel, 
and  others  ably,  but  uselessly,  supported  their  heroic 
leader.  La  Certe,  who  chanced  to  be  there  at  the 
time,  went  actively  about  encouraging  others  to  do 
their  very  best.  Old  Peg  made  a  feeble  effort  to  do 
what  she  conceived  to  be  her  duty,  and  Ok^matan 
stood  by,  calmly  looking  on — ^his  grave  countenance 
exhibiting  no  symptom  of  emotion,  but  his  mind 
filled  with  intense  surprise,  not  unmingled  witli 
pity,  for  the  Palefaces  who  displayed  such  an  amount 
of  energy  in  attempting  the  impossible. 

That  self-defence,  in  the  circumstances,  was  in- 
deed impossible  soon  became  apparent,  for  the 
enemy  descended  in  such  clouds  that  they  filled 
up  the  half-formed  ditch,  extinguished  the  fires 
with  their  dead  bodies,  defied  the  blanket-warriors, 
and  swarmed  not  only  into  the  garden  of  old  Duncan 
M'Kay  but  overwhelmed  the  whole  land. 

Darkness  and  exhaustion  from  the  fight  prevented 
the  people  of  Ben  Nevis  Hall  and  Prairie  Cottage 


i^ 


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il 

;£ 

3 


216 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNEKS  :   A  TALE 


itltlllll!  < 


ll!"'!!!! 


from  at  first  comprehending  the  extent  of  the 
calamity  with  which  they  had  thus  been  visited, 
but  enough  had  been  seen  to  convince  M'Kay  that 
his  garden  was  doomed.  When  he  at  last  allowed 
the  sad  truth  to  force  itself  into  his  mind  he  suffered 
Elspie  to  lead  him  into  the  house. 

"Don't  grieve,  daddy,"  she  said,  in  a  low  comfort- 
ing tone ;  "  perhaps  it  won't  be  as  bad  as  it  seems." 

"Fetch  me  my  pipe,  lass,"  he  said  on  reaching 
his  bedroom. 

"Goot  night  to  you,  my  tear,"  he  added,  on 
receiving  the  implement  of  consolation. 

"Won't  you  eat — or  drink — something,  daddy 
dear  ? " 

"Nothing — nothiUj^^  Leave  me  now.  We  hev 
had  a  goot  fight,  whatever,  an'  it  iss  to  bed  I  will 
be  goin'  now." 

Left  alone  the  old  man  lay  down  in  his  warrior- 
harness,  so  to  speak,  lighted  hiji  pipe,  smoked  him- 
self into  a  sort  of  philosophical  contempt  for  every- 
thing under  the  sun,  moon,  and  stars,  and  finally 
dropped  his  sufferings,  as  well  as  his  pipe,  by  falling 
into  a  profound  slumber. 

Next  morning  when  the  people  of  Eed  Kiver 
arose,  they  became  fully  aware  of  the  disaster  that 
had  befallen  them.  The  grasshoppers  had  made 
what  Jenkins  styled  a  clean  sweep  from  stem  to 
stern.  Crops,  gardens,  and  every  green  herb  in  the 
settlement  had  perished ;  and  all  the  sanguine  hopes 


of  t 
mor^ 
B| 

Wtilll 

visit 

that] 

thei 


groi 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


217 


of  the  long-suffering  settlers  were  blighted  or^*- 
more. 

Before  passing  from  this  subject  it  may  be  as 
well  to  mention  that  the  devastating  hosts  which 
visited  the  colony  at  this  time  left  behind  them 
that  which  turned  out  to  be  a  worse  affliction  than 
themselves.  They  had  deposited  their  larvae  in  the 
ground,  and,  about  the  end  of  the  June  following, 
countless  myriads  of  yov  grasshoppers  issued 
forth  to  overrun  the  fields.  They  swarmed  in 
such  masses  as  to  be  two,  three,  and — in  some 
places  near  water — even  four  inches  deep.  Along 
the  rivers  they  were  found  in  heaps  like  sea-weed, 
and  the  water  was  almost  poisoned  by  them.  Every 
vegetable  substance  was  devoured — the  leaves  and 
even  bark  of  trees  were  eaten  up,  the  grain  vanished 
as  fast  as  it  appeared  above  ground,  everything  was 
stripped  to  the  bare  stalk,  and  ultimately,  when 
they  died  in  myriads,  the  decomposition  of  their 
dead  bodies  was  more  offensive  than  their  living 
presence. 

Thus  the  settlers  were  driven  by  stress  of  mis- 
fortune once  again  to  the  plains  of  Pembina,  and 
obliged  to  consort  with  the  Eed-men  and  the  half- 
breeds,  in  obtaining  sustenance  for  their  families  by 
means  of  the  gun,  line,  trap,  and  snare. 


3 

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THE  BUFFALO  llUNNEllS  :    A  TALE 


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.III' 


CHAPTER    XX. 

LITTLE  BILL  BECOMES  A  DIFFICULTY. 

We  must  now  pass  over  another  winter,  during 
which  the  Red  River  settlers  had  to  sustain  life  as 
they  best  might — acquiring,  however,  in  doing  so, 
an  expertness  in  the  use  of  gun  and  trap  and 
fishing-line,  and  in  all  the  arts  of  the  savages,  which 
enabled  them  to  act  with  more  independence,  and 
to  sustain  themselves  and  their  families  in  greater 
comfort  than  before. 

Spring,  with  all  its  brightness,  warmth,  and  sug- 
gestiveness  had  returned  to  cheer  the  hearts  of 
men ;  and,  really,  those  who  have  never  experienced 
the  long  six-or-eight-months'  winter  of  Rupert's 
Land  can  form  no  conception  of  the  feelings  with 
which  the  body — to  say  nothing  of  the  soul — opens 
up  and  expands  itself,  so  to  speak,  in  order  to 
receive  and  fully  appreciate  the  sweet  influences  of 
spring. 

For  one  thing,  seven  or  eight  months  of  cold, 
biting,  steely  frost  causes  one  almost  to  forget  that 
there   ever  was   such    a   thing   as   summer   heat, 


OF  THE  llED  RIVKR  PLAINS. 


219 


summer  scents,  summer  sounds,  or  summer  skies. 
The  first  thaw  is  therefore  like  the  glad,  unexpected 
meeting  of  a  dear  old  friend ;  and  the  trumpet  voice 
of  the  first  goose,  the  whirring  wing  of  the  first 
duck,  and  the  whistle  of  the  first  plover,  sounds  like 
the  music  of  the  spheres  to  one's  long  unaccustomed 
ears.  Then  the  trickle  of  water  gives  one  something 
like  a  new  sensation.  It  may  be  but  a  thread  of 
liquid  no  thicker  than  a  pipe-stem  faintly  heard  by 
an  attentive  ear  tinkling  in  the  cold  depths  far 
under  the  ice  or  snow,  but  it  is  liquid,  not  solid, 
water.  It  is  suggestive  of  motion.  It  had  almost 
been  forgotten  as  a  sound  of  the  long  past  which 
had  forsaken  the  terrestrial  ball  for  ever. 

It  does  not  take  a  powerful  imagination  to  swell 
a  tiny  stream  to  a  rivulet,  a  river,  a  lake,  a  mighty 
ocean.  Shut  your  eyes  for  a  moment,  and,  in 
memory,  the  ice  and  snow  vanish,  the  streams  flow 
as  in  the  days  of  old ;  flowers  come  again  to  gladden 
the  eyes  and — but  why  trouble  you,  good  reader, 
with  all  this  ?  We  feel,  sadly,  that  unless  you  have 
tasted  the  northern  winter  no  description,  however 
graphic,  will  enable  jou  to  drink  in  the  spirit  of  the 
northern  spring. 

About  this  time  Ok^matan,  the  Cree  chief,  took  it 
into  his  head  that  he  would  go  a-hunting. 

This  last  word  does  not  suggest  to  a  dweller  in  the 
wilderness  that  crossing  of  ploughed  lands  on  horse- 
back, and  leaping  of  hedges,  etc.,  which  it  conveys 


"J 


4 


5 

•J 

■  m 

't 
•3 


220 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


:i!l 


..111 


to  the  mind  of  an  Englishman.  The  Cree  chief's 
notion  of  spring-hunting  was,  getting  into  a  birch- 
bark  canoe,  with  or  without  a  comrade,  and  going 
forth  on  the  lakes  and  rivers  of  the  wilderness  with 
plenty  of  powder  and  shot,  to  visit  the  native  home 
of  the  wild-goose,  the  wild-duck,  the  pelican,  the 
plover,  and  the  swan. 

For  such  a  trip  not  much  is  essential.  Besides 
the  gun  and  ammunition  referred  to,  Okcmatan 
carried  a  blanket,  a  hatchet,  several  extra  pairs  of 
moccasins,  a  tin  kettle  in  which  to  boil  food,  a  fire- 
bag  for  steel,  flint,  and  tinder,  with  a  small  supply 
of  tobacco. 

On  hearing  of  his  intention,  Dan  Davidson  re- 
solved to  accompany  him.  Dan  had  by  that  time 
associated  so  much  with  the  chief  that  he  had 
learned  to  speak  his  language  with  facility.  Indeed 
nearly  all  the  settlers  who  had  a  turn  for  languages 
had  by  that  time  acquired  a  smattering  more  or  less 
of  Indian  and  French. 

"  You  see,"  said  Dan  to  the  chief,  "  there  is  not 
much  doing  on  the  fariii  just  now,  and  I  want  to 
see  a  little  of  the  country  round  about,  so,  if  you 
don't  object  to  my  company,  I  'd  like  to  go." 

"  The  Cree  chief  will  be  proud  to  have  the  com- 
pany of  the  Paleface  chief,"  replied  the  Indian,  with 
grave  courtesy. 

Dan  wanted  to  say  "  All  right,"  but  was  ignorant 
of  the  Cree  equivalent  for  that  familiar  phrase ;  he 


;'H 


(< 


face 

own 
« 


OF  THE  RED  RIVEU  PLAINS. 


221 


therefore  substituted  the  more  sober  and  correct, 
"  It  is  well." 

"  But,"  said  he,  "  you  must  not  call  me  a  Pale- 
face chief,  for  I  am  only  an  ordinary  man  in  my 
own  land — what  you  would  call  one  of  the  braves." 

"  Okematan  is  thought  to  have  a  good  judgment 
among  his  people,"  returned  the  Indian,  "though  he 
has  not  the  snows  of  many  winters  on  his  head,  and 
he  thinks  that  if  Dan'el  had  stayed  in  the  wig- 
wams of  his  people  beyond  the  Great  Salt  Lake,  he 
would  have  been  a  chief." 

"It  may  be  so,  Okematan,  though  I  doubt  it," 
replied  Dan,  "but  that  is  a  point  which  cannot 
now  be  proved.  Meanwhile,  my  ambition  at  present 
is  to  become  a  great  hunter,  and  I  want  you  to 
teach  me." 

The  chief,  who  was  gratified  by  the  way  in 
which  this  was  put,  gladly  agreed  to  the  proposal. 

"  There  is  another  man  who  would  like  to  go  with 
us,"  said  Davidson.  "  My  friend,'  Fergus  M'Kay,  is 
anxious,  I  know,  to  see  more  of  the  lands  of  the 
Indian.  You  have  no  objection  to  his  going,  I 
suppose? — in  another  canoe  of  course,  for  three 
would  be  too  many  in  your  small  canoe." 

Okematan  had  no  objection. 

"Three  would  not  be  too  many  in  the  canoe,"  he 
said,  "  but  two  are  better  for  hunting." 

"Very  good.  But  we  will  want  a  fourth  to 
make  tw^o  in  each  canoe.    Whom  shall  we  invite  ? ' 


« 


5 

■■ 

'J 


3 


ill!  I 


222 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


\p:   111 1 


,,,j|li!ilin 


I  ' 


Jim 


ill 


-I  I 


■i!    i 


"  Ok^matan's  counsel  is,"  answered  the  chief,  "  to 
take  a  brave  who  is  young  and  strong  and  active ; 
whose  eye  is  quick  and  his  hand  steady  ;  whose 
heart  never  comes  into  his  throat  when  danger 
faces  him ;  whose  face  does  not  grow  pale  at  the 
sight  of  approaching  death ;  whose  heart  is  as  the 
heart  of  the  grisly  bear  for  courage,  and  yet  tender 
as  the  heart  of  a  Paleface  squaw;  whose  hand 
can  accomplish  whatever  his  head  plans,  and  whose 
tongue  is  able  to  make  a  sick  man  smile." 

Davidson  smiled  to  himself  at  this  descrintion, 
which  the  chief  uttered  with  the  sententious  gravity 
that  would  have  characterised  his  'speech  and  bear- 
ing in  a  council  of  war. 

"  A  most  notable  comrade,  good  Ok(5matan ;  but 
where  are  we  to  find  him,  for  I  know  nobody  who 
comes  near  to  that  description." 

'*  He  dwells  in  your  own  wigwam,"  returned  the 
chief. 

"  In  Prairie  Cottage  ? "  exclaimed  the  other  with 
a  puzzled  air.  "  You  can't  mean  my  brother  Peter, 
surely,  for  he  is  about  ls  grave  as  yourself." 

"  Okematan  means  the  young  brave  who  loves  his 
little  brother." 

"  What !  Archie  Sinclair  ? "  exclaimed  Dan,  with 
a  surprised  look.  "  I  had  no  idea  you  had  so  high 
an  opinion  of  him." 

"Okdmatan  has  seen  much  of  Arch-ee:  has 
watched  him.     He  sees  that  he  thinks  nothing  of 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


223 


|f,  "  to 

;tive ; 
^hose 
mger 
the 
|s  the 
mder 
[hand 
'hose 


himself ;  that  he  thinks  always  for  the  sick  brother, 
leetl  Beel,  and  that  he  will  yet  be  a  great  chief 
among  the  Palefaces." 

"  Well,  now  you  come  to  mention  it,  there  is 
something  about  Archie  that  puts  him  high  above 
other  boys ;  and  I  suppose  his  unselfishness  has 
much  to  do  with  it ;  but  don't  you  think  he 's  too 
young,  and  hardly  strong  enough  ?  " 

"  He  is  not  young.  He  is  fifty  years  old  in 
wisdom.  He  is  very  strong  for  his  size,  and  he  is 
vnlling,  which  makes  his  strength  double." 

"  But  he  will  never  consent  to  leave  Little  Bill," 
said  Dan. 

"Ok^matan  had  fears  of  that,"  returned  the 
Indian,  with,  for  the  first  time,  a  look  of  per- 
plexity on  his  face.  "  If  Arch-ee  will  not  go  with- 
out Leetl  Beel,  Leetl  Beel  must  go  too." 

It  was  found,  on  inquiry,  that  they  were  right 
in  their  surmise.  When  the  proposal  was  made  to 
Archie  that  afternoon  by  Dan,  the  boy's  eyes 
seemed  to  light  up  and  dance  in  his  head  at  the 
prospect.  Then  the  light  suddenly  went  out,  and 
the  dancing  ceased. 

"  Why,  what 's  the  matter,  Archie  ? "  asked  his 
friend. 

"  Can't  go.     Impossible ! "  said  Archie. 

"  Why  not  ? " 

"Who's  to  look  after  Little  Bill,  I  should  like  to 
know,  if  I  leave  him  ? " 


.4 1 

s 


m 

3 


224 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


iliiii 


ilill 


's4ll! 


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ill 


■lli;i 
'"'i 

II 


"  Elspie,  of  course,"  said  Dan,  "  and  Elise,  to  say 
nothing  of  Jessie,  mother,  and  brother  Peter." 

Archie  shook  his  head. 

'•'  No,"  he  said,  "  no !  I  can't  go.  Elspie  is  all 
very  well  in  her  way,  and  so  is  Elise,  but  they  can't 
carry  Little  Bill  about  the  fields  and  through  the 
bush  on  their  backs ;  and  Peter  wouldn't ;  he 's  too 
busy  about  the  farm.  No — ever  since  mother  died, 
I've  stuck  to  Little  Bill  through  thick  and  thin. 
So  I  won't  go." 

It  was  so  evident  that  Archie  Sinclair's  mind  was 
made  up  and  fixed,  and  also  so  obvious  that  a  deli- 
cate little  boy  would  be  a  great  encumbrance  on  a 
hunting  expedition  that  Dan  thought  of  attempting 
the  expedient  of  winning  Little  Bill  himself  over  to 
his  side.  He  had  no  difficulty  in  doing  that,  for 
Billie  was  to  the  full  as  amiable  and  unselfish  as 
his  brother.  After  a  short  conversation,  he  made 
Billie  promise  to  do  his  very  best  to  induce  Archie 
to  go  with  the  hunters  and  leave  him  behind. 

"For  you  know,  Little  Bill,"  said  Dan  in  con- 
clusion, and  by  way  of  consoling  him,  "although 
nobody  could  take  such  good  care  of  you  as  Archie, 
or  make  up  to  you  for  him,  Elspie  would  take  his 
place  very  well  for  a  time ." 

"  0  yes,  I  know  that  well  enough,"  said  the  poor  boy 
with  some  enthusiasm ;  "Elspie  is  always  very  good 
to  me.     You  've  no  notion  how  nice  she  is,  Dan." 

"  Hm !  well,  I  have  got  a  sort  of  a  half  notion, 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


225 


maybe,"  returned  Dan  with  a  peculiar  look.  "  But 
that 's  all  right,  then.  You  '11  do  what  you  can  to 
persuade  Archie,  and — there  he  is,  evidently  coming 
to  see  you,  so  I  '11  go  and  leave  you  to  talk  it  over 
with  him." 

Billie  did  not  give  his  brother  time  to  begin,  but 
accosted  him  on  his  entrance  with — "  I  'm  so  glad, 
Archie,  that  you  've  been  asked  to  go  on  this  hunt- 
ing expe " 

"  0  !  you  've  heard  of  it,  then  ? " 

"  Yes,  and  I  want  you  to  go,  very  very  much,  be- 
cause  because " 

"  Don't  trouble  yourself  with  hecaicses,  Little  Bill, 
for  I  won't  go.  So  there's  an  end  of  it — unless," 
he  added,  as  if  a  thought  had  suddenly  occurred 
to  him,  "  unless  they  agree  to  take  you  with  them. 
They  might  do  worse.     I  '11  see  about  that." 

So  saying,  Archie  turned  about,  left  the  room 
as  abruptly  as  he  had  entered  it,  and  sought  out 
Ok^matan.  He  found  that  chief  sitting  in  La 
Certe's  wigwam,  involved  in  the  mists  of  meditation 
and  tobacco  smoke,  gazing  at  Slowfoot. 

That  worthy  woman — who,  with  her  lord  and 
little  child,  was  wont  to  forsake  her  hut  in 
spring,  and  go  into  the  summer-quarters  of  a  wig- 
wam— was  seated  on  the  opposite  side  of  a  small 
fire,  enduring  Ok^matan's  meditative  gaze,  either 
unconsciously  or  with  supreme  indifference. 

"  Hallo !   Ok4  " — thus    irreverently    did    Archie 


'J 

i 

■ 

3 

Mi 

IJ 

•J 

0 
if 

r3 


226 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


'i  ■  i 

111 

.,iUi 
ii|t 


!  I 


address  the  chief — had  any  one  else  ventured  to  do 
so,  he  might  possibly  have  been  scalped — "  Hallo ! 
Ok^,  I  've  been  hnntin'  for  you  all  round.  You  're 
worse  to  find  than  an  arrow  in  the  grass." 

It  may  be  said,  here,  that  Archie  had  learned, 
like  some  of  the  other  settlers,  a  smattering  of  the 
Cree  language.  How  he  expressed  the  above  we 
know  not.  We  can  only  give  the  sen^e  as  he 
would  probably  have  given  it  in  his  own  tongue. 

"Ok(^matan's  friends  can  always  find  him,"  an- 
swered the  Indian  with  a  grave  but  pleased  look. 

"  So  it  seems.  But  I  say,  Ok6,  I  want  to  ask  a 
favour  of  you.  Dan  Davidson  tells  me  you  want 
me  to  go  a-hunting  with  you.  Well,  I  'm  your  man 
if  you'll  let  me  take  Little  Bill  with  me.  Will 
you  ? " 

"  Leetl  Beel  is  not  strong,"  objected  the  Indian. 

"  True,  but  a  trip  o'  this  sort  w411  make  him  strong 
perhaps.     Anyhow,  it  will  make  him  stronger." 

"  But  for  a  sick  boy  there  is  danger,"  said  the 
chief.  "If  Arch-ee  upsets  his  canoe  in  a  rapid, 
Arch-ee  swims  on  shore,  but  Leetl  Beel  goes  to 
the  bottom." 

"Not  as  long  as  Arch-ee  is  there  to  hold  him 
up,"  returned  the  boy. 

"  Waugh  ! "  exclaimed  the  Indian. 

"  Humph ! "  remarked  the  boy.  "  What  d'  ye  mean 
by  '  Waugh,'  Ok^  ? " 

"Ok^matan  meant  much  that  it  is  not  in  the 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


227 


power  of  the  tongue  to  tell,"  replied  the  Indian 
with  increasing  gravity;  and  as  the  gravity  in- 
creased the  cloudlets  from  his  lips  became  more 
voluminous. 

"Arch-ee  hopes,  nevertheless,  that  the  tongue 
of  Oke  may  find  power  to  tell  him  a  little  of  what 
he  thinks." 

This  being  in  some  degree  indefinite,  the  chief 
smoked  in  silence  for  a  minute  or  two,  and  gazed 
at  Slowfoot  with  that  dreamy  air  which  one  as- 
sumes when  gazing  into  the  depths  of  a  suggestive 
fire.  Apparently  inspiration  came  at  last — whether 
from  Slowfoot  or  not  we  cannot  tell — for  he  turned 
solemnly  to  the  boy. 

"  Eain  comes,"  he  said,  "  and  when  sick  men  get 
wet  they  grow  sicker.  Carrying-places  come,  and 
when  sick  men  come  to  them  they  stagger  and  fall. 
Frost  often  comes  in  spring,  and  when  sick  men  get 
cold  they  die.     Waugh ! " 

"  Humph ! "  repeated  the  boy  again,  with  a 
solemnity  quite  equal  to  that  of  the  Eed-man. 
"When  rain  comes  I  can  put  up  an  umbrella — 
an  umbrella.     D'  you  know  what  that  is  ? " 

The  Indian  shook  his  head. 

"Well  it's  a — a  thing — a  sort  of  little  tent — a 
wigwam,  you  know,  with  a  stick  in  the  middle  to 
hold  on  to  and  put  it  up.     D'  you  understand  ? " 

An  expression  of  blank  bewilderment,  so  to  speak, 
settled  on  the  chief's  visage,  and  the  lights  of 


lb 


•J 

*3 


228 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TAi;.E 


II 


'I 

^,1 


.1111 


liil 


'■ii,|  ;l| ' 

'"ill; 


4 


intelligence  went  out  one  by  one  until  he  presented 
an  appearance  which  all  but  put  the  boy's  gravity 
to  flight. 

"  Well,  well,  it 's  of  no  use  my  tryin'  to  explain 
it,"  he  continued.  "  I  '11  show  it  to  you  soon,  and 
then  you  '11  understand." 

Intelligence  began  to  return,  and  the  chief  looked 
gratified. 

"  What  you  call  it  ? "  he  asked — for  he  was  of  an 
inquiring  disposition — "  a  bum-rella  ? " 

"Ko,  no,"  replied  the  other,  seriously,  "an  um- 
h7'eUa.  It  *8  a  clever  contrivance,  as  you  shall  see. 
So,  you  see,  I  can  keep  the  rain  off  Little  Bill  when 
he 's  in  the  canoe,  and  on  shore  there  are  the  trees, 
and  the  canoe  itself  turned  bottom  up.  Then,  at 
carryin'  places,  I  can  carry  Little  Bill  as  well  as 
other  things.  He 's  not  heavy  and  doesn't  struggle, 
so  we  won't  leave  him  to  stagger  and  fall.  As  to 
frost — have  we  not  hatchets,  and  are  there  not  dead 
trees  in  the  forest  ?  Frost  and  fire  never  walk  in 
company,  so  that  Little  Bill  won't  get  cold  and  die, 
for  we  '11  keep  him  warm — waugh ! " 

When  human  beings  are  fond  of  each  other  dis- 
agreement seldom  lasts  long.  Ok^matan  had  taken 
so  strong  a  fancy  to  Archie  that  he  felt  it  impossible 
to  hold  out ;  therefore,  being  a  man  of  strong  common 
sense,  he  did  not  attempt  the  impossible. 

Thus  it  came  to  pass  that,  two  days  later,  a  couple 
of  birch-bark  canoes  were  launched  on  the  waters 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


229 


of  Eed  River,  with  Dan  Davidson  ii;  the  stern  of 
one  and  Fergus  M'Kay  acting  as  his  bowman. 
Ok^matan  took  the  stern  of  the  other,  while 
Archie  Sinclair  wielded  the  bow-paddle,  and  Little 
Bill  was  placed  in  the  middle  on  a  comfortable  green 
blanket  with  the  celebrated  "bum-rella"  erected 
over  him  to  keep  off,  not  the  rain,  but,  the  too 
glorious  sunshine. 


'4 


i 


•3 


I? 


230 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


Uliimiij 


CHAPTER    XXI. 


AN  AUSPICIOUS  BEGINNING  AND  SUSPICIOUS  ENDING. 


li 


It 


il' 


'I 


ill 


Let  loose  in  the  wilderness!  How  romantic, 
how  inexpressibly  delightful,  that  idea  seems  to  some 
minds !  Ay,  even  when  the  weight  of  years  begins 
to  stiffen  the  joints  and  slack  the  cords  of  life  the 
memory  of  God's  great,  wild,  untrammelled,  beauti- 
ful wilderness  comes  over  the  spirit  like  a  refresh- 
ing dream  and  restores  for  a  time  something  like 
the  pulse  of  youth. 

We  sometimes  think  what  a  joy  it  would  be  if 
youth  could  pass  through  its  blessings  with  the 
intelligent  experience  of  age.  And  it  may  be  that 
this  i°  to  be  one  of  the  joys  of  the  future,  when 
man,  redeemed  and  delivered  from  sin  by  Jesus 
Christ,  shall  find  that  the  memory  of  the  sorrows, 
sufferings,  weaknesses  of  the  past  shall  add  incon- 
ceivably to  the  joys  of  the  present.  It  may  be  so. 
Judging  from  analogy  it  does  not  seem  presumptuous 
to  suppose  and  hope  that  it  will  be  so. 

"Sufficient  unto  the  day,"  however,  is  the  joy 
thereof. 


OF  THE  UEU  RIVER  PLAINS. 


231 


When  the  two  canoes  pushed  off  and  swept 
rapidly  over  the  fair  bosom  of  Red  liiver,  the  heart 
of  Archie  Sinclair  bounded  with  a  feeling  of  exult- 
ant joy  wliich  it  would  have  been  very  hard  indeed 
to  convince  him  was  capable  of  increase,  while  the 
bosom  of  his  invalid  brother  was  filled  with  a  sort 
of  calm  serenity  which  constituted,  in  his  opinion 
at  the  time  being,  a  quite  sufficient  amount  of 
felicity. 

When  we  add  that  the  other  hunters  were,  in  their 
several  ways,  pretty  much  in  the  same  condition  as 
the  boys,  we  have  said  enough  to  justify  the  remark 
that  their  circumstances  were  inexpressibly  delight- 
ful. 

Proceeding  some  distance  up  stream  they  finally 
diverged  into  a  minor  tributary  which  led  to 
waters  that  were  swarming  with  water-fowl  and 
other  game. 

"  This  is  a  grand  burst,  Little  Bill,"  said  Archie, 
as  he  plied  his  paddle  vigorously,  and  glanced  over 
his  shoulder  at  the  invalid  behind  him. 

"  Prime  ! "  answered  Billie.  "  Isn't  it?"  he  added, 
with  a  backward  glance  at  Okdmatan. 

"  Waugh ! "  replied  the  reticent  savage. 

"Ay  'Waugh!'  that's  all  you'll  get  out  of  him 
when  he's  puzzled,"  said  Archie;  "though  what 
he  means  by  it  is  more  than  I  know.  You  must 
speak  respectable  English  to  a  Red-skin  if  you  want 
to  convince  him.     Why,  if  he  had  understood  you 


'I 

I 


•i 

n 
m 

'< 
3 


232 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


>h 


'!li 


nil 


illll' 


*    i'lt 


literally,  you  know — and  obeyed  you — he  'd  have  had 
something  to  do  immediately  with  the  lock  of  his 
gun." 

"I  ha\v  often  wondered,  Archie,"  returned  his 
brother  with  a  languid  smile,  "  what  a  lot  you 
manage  to  say  sometimes  with  nothing  in  it." 

"  Ha  !  ha ! — ho !  ho  !  what  a  wag  you  're  becom- 
ing. Little  Bill.  T3ut  I  thank  ee  for  the  compliment, 
for  you  know  it's  only  philosophers  that  can  say  a 
an  awful  lot  without  a'most  sayin'  anything  at  all. 
Look  at  Ok(^  there,  now,  what  a  depth  of  stu- 
pidity lies  behind  his  brown  visage ;  what  buckets- 
ful  of  ignorance  swell  out  his  black  pate,  but  he 
expressea  it  all  in  the  single  word  *  Waugh  ! '  because 
he 's  a  philosopher.  If  he  was  like  La  Certe,  he  'd 
jabber  away  to  us  by  the  hour  of  things  he  knows 
nothin'  about,  and  tell  us  long  stories  that  are 
nothin'  less  than  big  lies.  I  'm  glad  you  think  me 
a  philosopher,  Little  Bill,  for  it  takes  all  the  philo- 
sophy I  've  got  to  keep  me  up  to  the  scratch  of  goin' 
about  the  world  wi'  you  on  my  back.  Why,  I  'm  a 
regular  Sindbad  the  Sailor,  only  I  'm  saddled  with 
a  young  man  o'  the  plains  instead  of  an  old  man 
of  the  sea.  D'ee  understand  what  I'm  saying, 
OU,  ? " 

The  chief,  who  understood  little  more  than  that 
his  own  name  and  that  of  La  Certe  were  mentioned, 
nodded  his  head  gravely  and  allowed  the  corners 
of  his  mouth  to  droop,  which  was  his  peculiar  way 


roul 

lakl 

sm< 

stuj 

clei 

edj 

sev 

we 


OF  THE  UEb  111 V Eli  I'LAINS. 


233 


of  smiling — a  smile  that  miglit  have  been  imiutel- 
ligible  to  his  friends  had  it  not  been  relieved  and 
interpreted  by  a  decided  twinkle  in  his  eyes. 

While  they  were  conversing,  the  two  canoes  had 
rounded  a  rocky  point  and  swept  out  upon  a 
lake-like  expanse  in  the  river  which  was  perfectly 
smooth  and  apparently  currentless.  Several  islets 
studded  its  calm  breast  and  were  reflected  in  the 
clear  water.  These  were  wooded  to  the  water's 
edge,  and  from  among  the  sedges  near  their  margin 
several  flocks  of  wild-fowl  sprang  up  in  alarm  and 
went  off  in  fluttering  confusion. 

It  chanced  that  just  then  a  trumpet-like  note  was 
heard  overhead,  as  a  flock  of  wild  geese  passed  the 
spot  and  came  suddenly  close  within  range  of  the 
canoes  which  had  been  concealed  from  them  by  the 
bushes  that  fringed  the  river. 

Guns  were  seized  at  once  by  the  bowmen  in  each 
canoe,  but  Archie  was  smarter  than  Fergus.  Before 
the  Highlander  had  got  the  weapon  well  into  his 
hands  the  boy  fired  and  one  of  the  flock  fell  into 
the  river  with  a  heavy  plunge. 

Little  Bill  signalised  the  successful  shot  with  a 
high-toned  cheer,  and  the  Indian  with  a  low-toned 
"  Waugh,"  while  Fergus  made  a  hurried  and,  there- 
fore, bad  shot  at  the  scared  flock. 

"  That  wass  a  fery  good  shot,  Archie,"  remarked 
Fergus,  as  the  canoes  ranged  up  alongside  of  the 
dead  bird. 


'J 

'i3 


2.34 


THE  BUFFALO  IJUNNEIIS  :   A  TALE 


3i|i;  . 


"Yours  wns  a  very  good  one,  too,  Fergus,"  re- 
turned the  boy  ;  "  only  not  quite  straight." 

The  smile  on  the  face  of  Ok(5matan  proved  that 
he  understood  the  drift  of  the  reply,  and  that  this 
was  the  style  of  humour  he  appreciated  so  highly 
in  his  young  friend.  We  civilised  people  may 
wonder  a  little  at  the  simplicity  of  the  savage,  but 
when  we  reflect  that  the  chief  had  been  born 
and  bred  among  the  solemnities  of  the  wilderness, 
and  had  been  up  to  that  time  wholly  unacquainted 
with  the  humours  and  pleasantries  that  sometimes 
accompany  juvenile  "cheek,"  our  wonder  may 
perhaps  be  subdued. 

"  This  would  be  a  splendid  place  to  camp  for  the 
rest  of  the  day,"  suggested  Davidson,  while  they 
rested  on  their  paddles  after  the  goose  had  been 
secured.  "  We  must  lay  in  a  small  stock  of  fresh 
provisions,  you  know,  if  we  are  to  push  on  to-morrow 
or  next  day  to  our  hunting  ground.  What  say  you, 
Ok^matan  ? "  he  added  in  Cree,  turning  to  their 
guide. 

"The  will  of  the  Paleface  chief  is  the  wish  of 
Okematan.     Let  him  speak." 

"  Well,  then,  I  vote  for  encamping  on  the  small 
island  over  there,  in  the  middle  c'  the  lake — for  it 's 
far  more  like  a  lake  than  a  river  hereabouts — that 
one  over  which  the  hawk  is  hovering." 

"  I  vote  for  it  too,"  said  Archie. 

"  So  do  I,"  chimed  in  Little  Bill. 


((i 


OF  THE  UEI)  RIVER  PLAINS. 


235 


"  I  will  be  sayin'  ditto  to  tliat,"  put  in  Fergus. 

"  Moreover,"  suggested  Dan,  "  I  vote  for  roasting 
the  goose  at  once." 

"Ay,  and  eating  him  right  away,"  said  Archie. 
As  the  invalid  followed  this  up  with  a  feeble  cheer, 
the  proposal  was  carried  into  effect  witliout  delay. 

The  islet  was  low  and  flat,  and  so  thickly  covered 
with  bush  that  it  afforded  a  most  enticing  sp^t  for 
a  night-encampment.  There  was  also  plenty  of 
dead  wood  on  it,  with  which  to  replenish  the  fire, 
and  various  peeps  through  sundry  openings  afforded 
exquisite  views  of  woodland  and  river  with  which 
to  charm  the  eyes.  Over  all,  the  sun  was  pouring 
his  noontide  rays  in  a  glorious  flood. 

We  need  not  waste  time  in  <i:oiim  into  the  details 
of  the  feast  that  followed  :  how  the  goose  was  delight- 
fully plump  and  tender — especially  tender  to  teeth 
that  would  have  scarcely  observed  the  difference  :i 
it  had  been  tough — how,  in  addition  to  the  goose, 
they  had  wild-ducks  enough — shot  earlier  in  the 
day — to  afford  each  one  a  duck  to  himself,  leaving 
a  brace  over,  of  which  Okdmatan  ate  one,  as  well 
as  his  share  of  the  goose,  and  seemed  to  wish  that 
he  might  eat  the  other,  but  he  didn't,  for  he  restrained 
himself;  how  they  drank  tea  with  as  much  gusto 
and  intemperance  as  if  it  had  been  a  modern  "  after- 
noon " ;  and  how,  after  all  was  over,  the  Eed-man 
filled  the  pipe-head  on  the  back  of  his  iron  tomahawk 
and  began  to  smoke  with  the  air  of  a  man  who 


:3 


K 
^3 


236 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


l\  'M 


ta*;  .'III 

I 

1 

t 

! 

1 

1 
1 

1 
1 

.1 

1 

1 

i! 

ii 
.1 

i  1 
1 

meant  business  and  regarded  all  that  had  gone  before 
as  mere  child's-play. 

The  afternoon  was  well  advanced  when  the  feast 
was  concluded,  for  appetites  in  the  wilderness  are 
not  easily  or  soon  satisfied. 

"  I  feel  tight,"  said  Billie  with  a  sigh  and  some- 
thing of  pathos  in  his  tone,  when  he  at  last  laid 
down  his'knife — we  cannot  add  fork,  for  they  scorned 
such  implements  at  that  time. 

"That's  right,  Little  BiU,"  said  Archie,  '^  try 
another  leg  or  wing — now,  don't  shake  your  head. 
We  've  come  on  this  trip  a-purpose  to  make  you  fat 
an'  strong.  So  you  must — here,  try  this  drum-stick. 
It 's  only  a  little  one,  like  yourself,  Billie." 

"True,  Archie,  but  I'm  too  little  to  hold  it.  I 
feel  like  an  egg  now." 

"  Hallo !  Ok^,  are  you  overcome  already  ? "  asked 
Archie. 

"The  sun  sinks  to  rest  at  night  and  the  birds 
go  to  sleep.  If  we  intend  to  hunt  we  must  begin 
now." 

"It's  always  the  way,"  returned  the  boy  with  an 
air  of  discontent;  "whenever  a  fellow  gets  into  a 
state  of  extreme  jollity  there 's  sure  to  be  something 
bothersome  to  come  and  interrupt  us.  Obfusticate 
j^our  faculties  with  some  more  smoke,  Ok^,  till 
Billie  and  I  finish  our  tea.  We  can't  shoot  with 
half-empty  stomachs,  you  know." 

"  They  must  be  three-quarters  full  by  this  time — 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


237 


whatever,"  remarked  Fergus,  wiping  his  clasp-knife 
on  the  grass. 

Just  then,  Dan  Davidson,  who  had  gone  to  explore 
the  islet,  returned  with  the  information  that  some 
hunters  must  have  recently  visited  the  same  place, 
for  he  had  discovered  the  remains  of  an  encampment 
at  the  extreme  eastern  side,  which  looked  as  if  it 
had  been  recently  occupied,  for  bones  of  wild-fowl 
were  scattered  about,  the  meat  on  which  was  neither 
dried  nor  decayed. 

On  hearing  this,  Ok^matan  rose  quickly,  put  out 
his  pipe,  and  stuck  the  tomahawk  in  his  belt.  The 
sluggish  good-natured  air  of  contentment  with  which 
he  had  been  smoking  vanished ;  the  half-sleepy  eyes 
opened,  and  a  frown  rested  on  his  brow  as  he  said, 
shortly — 

"  Okematan  goes  to  look." 

"  May  I  go  with  you  ? "  asked  Dan. 

"  No.  Okematan  goes  alone.  It  is  known  that  a 
band  of  Saulteaux  have  been  seen.  They  are  roused 
just  now  by  the  actions  of  the  great  white  chief  and 
the  words  of  my  Nation.  Eest  here  till  I  come. 
Go  on  eating.    If  they  are  here  they  may  be  watch- 


ing us  now. 


» 


"  D'  ee  hear  that.  Little  Bill  ?  You  've  got  to  go 
on  eating,"  said  Archie.  "  Our  guide  commands  it. 
If  you  disobey,  the  rascally  Saulteaux  will  come 
down  upon  us  somehow." 

But  Archie's  light-heartedness  was  not  shared  by 


»<■ 

I'* 


In 


i 
i 

3 


238 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


[i    n\\) 


!i 


i  I 


m-v<\]\ 


1" 


1  M 


•«ii'   III    i 


his  older  companions.  They  knew  too  well  that 
the  disturbed  state  of  the  country  at  the  time,  and 
especially  the  ill-will  engendered  between  the  Crees 
and  Saulteaux  by  the  ill-advised  action  of  Lord 
Selkirk's  agents,  rendered  an  explosion  not  impro- 
bable at  any  time,  and  a  certain  feeling  of  disappoint- 
ment came  over  them  when  they  reflected  that  the 
hunting  expedition,  which  they  had  entered  on  with 
so  much  enthusiastic  hope,  might  perhaps  be  brought 
to  an  abrupt  close. 

"  If  there 's  to  be  any  fighting  I  shall  only  be  in 
your  way,"  said  the  invalid  in  a  tone  in  which  there 
■".vas  much  of  sadness,  though  none  of  fear. 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it,  Little  Bill,"  returned  Dan,  quickly. 
*•  You  '11  be  in  nobody's  way  in  the  canoes.  You  *re 
as  light  as  a  feather.  If  we  had  even  to  take  to  the 
bush,  Archie  could  run  with  you ;  an'  when  he  gets 
tired,  Fergus  and  I  would  think  no  more  o'  you  than 
a  grasshopper." 

"Iss  it  carryin'  him  you  will  be  taalkin'  of?" 
said  Fergus.  "  Ay,  ay !  I  would  be  forgettin'  that 
he  wass  on  my  back  if  I  had  him  there." 

As  hv.  'poke,  the  Indian  returned  to  the  camp 
with  the  cat-like  tread  so  characteristic  of  the 
Red-man. 

"A  big  band  has  been  here,"  he  said.  "They 
slept  on  the  island  last  night,  and  the  signs  show 
that  they  do  not  come  as  friends." 

"  xi^e  you  sure  of  that  ? "  asked  Dan. 


OF  THE  IlED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


239 


"Ok^raatan  is  sure  of  nothing.  Even  the  sun 
may  not  rise  to-morrow." 

"  Had  we  not  better,  then,  return  at  once  to  the 
Settlement,  and  tell  what  we  have  seen  ] "  said  Dan. 

"  If  we  did,  the  Saulteaux  would  see  us  and  give 
chase.  Their  canoes  are  big  and  have  strong  men 
in  them.  They  would  overtake  us  soon  and  our 
scalps  would  be  swinging  at  their  belts  to-morrow." 

"  Not  pleesant  to  think  of — whatever,"  said  Fergus. 

"  What,  then,  do  you  advise  ? "  asked  Dan.  "  You 
understand  the  ways  of  the  wilderness,  and  we  will 
follow  your  lead." 

The  chief  appeared  to  think  for  a  few  moments. 

"  We  will  remain  where  we  are,"  he  said ;  "  only 
we  will  send  the  boys  off  in  one  of  the  canoes,  as  if 
to  shoot  some  ducks  for  us.  The  Saulteaux  will 
think  that  we  are  lazy,  idle  men,  who  like  to  lie  in 
camp  and  sleep  or  smoke  while  the  boys  hunt  for  us. 
When  night  comes  we  will  escape  in  the  dark  and 
go  down  the  river  to  warn  the  settlers." 

"  But  what  if  they  attack  us  before  night  comes 
on  ? "  asked  Dan. 

"They  will  not  do  that,"  answered  the  Indian, 
gravely.  "They  know  that  we  are  well  supplied 
with  powder  and  shot.  They  know  that  some  one 
must  lead  in  every  attack,  and  that  such  leaders 
would  be  doomed  to  death.  Saulteaux  do  not  love 
death.  They  prefer  life.  They  will  not  come  till  it 
is  dark." 


"i 

i 

IS  I 

'!» 

1 

i 

n 

c 

3 


240 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


am  (|i 


|?itiS(i:  ';  j 


"  Ha !  ha ! "  laughed  Fergus,  who  seemed  greatly 
tickled  with  the  latter  part  of  the  chief's  observation, 
"  fery  goot !  ho  !  fery  goot ! — they  do  not  love  death, 
an'  it  iss  life  they  will  be  preferrin'.  Ay,  ay  !  It 
iss  the  Heelandman  that  will  be  of  much  the  same 
opeenion,  only,  when  fightin*  hes  got  to  be  done, 
he 's  not  afraid  to  do  it  in  daylight." 

"  He  may  not  be  afraid,  Fergus,"  said  Dan,  *'  yet 
I  suspect  that  the  Eed-man's  tactics  are  often  the 
w^isest,  for  what  would  be  the  use  of  making  an 
attack  in  daylight,  at  the  cost  of  several  lives,  when 
the  attack  might  be  made  quite  as  well,  if  not  better, 
at  night,  without  the  loss,  perhaps,  of  any  life  at 
all  ? " 

"  I  will  not  be  say  in',"  returned  Fergus,  who  was 
of  an  argumentative  disposition,  "anything  at  all 
about  attackin'  by  day  or  by  night.  I  will  only  be 
remarkin'  that  the  Heelandman  iss  like  the  savitch 
in  that  he  prefers  life  to  death." 

"  Come  along  to  the  fire,  Fergus,"  said  Dan,  laugh- 
ing ;  "  I  will  argue  that  out  with  you." 

"  It  will  be  difficult  to  argue,  then,  for  there  iss 
no  argument  in  it  at  all.  It  is  only  a  statement  of 
opeenion." 

"Well,  but  surely  it  is  possible  to  controvert 
your  opinion !  Besides,  we  are  somewhat  exposed 
where  we  stand.  Even  an  arrow  might  reach  us 
from  the  near  bank." 

"Never  you  fear,  Tan.      They  will   not  be   so 


(( 


OF  THE  RED  RIVEH  PLAINS. 


241 


foolish  as  to  fire  now,  instead  of  attack  at  night. 
They  are  sly — whatever." 

While  the  two  friends  were  thus  conversing,  the 
Cree  chief  was  arranging  the  smaller  of  the  canoes 
for  the  use  of  the  young  hunters — that  is,  he  took 
out  all  the  lading,  making  it  so  light  that  it  would 
skim  over  the  water  like  an  egg-shell  with  the 
slightest  impulse  of  the  paddle. 

"You'll  have  to  put  a  big  stone  in  the  stern, 
Oke,"  said  Archie,  "to  make  up  for  Little  Bill's 
lightness " 

"  For  your  heaviness,  you  mean,"  interrupted  the 
invalid. 

"  No ;  I  mean  what  I  say,  Billie,  for  you  are  light- 
headed as  well  as  light-hearted — a  sort  o'  human 
balloon,  ready  to  go  up  like  a  rocket  at  any  time — 
so  that  even  an  or'nary  man  like  me  weighs  you 
down.  Besides,  Ok4,  he  steers  better  than  me  and 
I  shoot  better  than  him.  Also,  I  like  the  hardest 
work,  so  I  always  take  the  bow." 

Arranging  things  according  to  directions,  the 
Indian  held  the  canoe  steady  while  the  brothers 
stepped  carefully  in — for  they  had  learned  from  ex- 
perience that  the  birch-bark  canoe,  besides  being 
easily  broken,  is  apt  to  overturn  on  small  provo- 
cation. 

"Let  not  Arch-ee  go  near  the  river-bank  on 
either  side,"  said  the  chief  in  a  warning  voice,  as  he 
was  about  to  shove  the  frail   bark  out  upon  the 

Q 


3 

'ii 

i 

4 


242 


THE  BUFFALO  PUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


ti 


''1 
III 


glassy  water.  *'The  Saulteaux  might  catch  him. 
And  let  him  not  go  far  up  or  down  stream.  Let 
him  keep  among  the  reeds  round  the  island.  There 
are  many  ducks  there.  Shoot  plenty,  as  if  Arch-ee 
had  no  suspicion — no  fear  of  Indians." 

"  I  say,  Ok^"  demanded  the  lad,  with  what  was 
meant  for  an  ovcivv helming  frown,  "  do  you  mean 
to  hint  that  I  have  any  fear  of  the  Indians  ? " 

"Ok^matan  has  the  belief  that  Arch-ee  never 
knew  fear  at  all,"  returned  the  chief,  earnestly; 
"that  he  has  the  courage  of  the  young  buffalo- 
bull." 

"  Well,  I  'm  not  quite  so  sure  o'  that,"  returned 
the  boy,  with  a  modest  look.  "  I  would  not  myself 
put  it  quite  so  strong,  you  know.  But  you  're  a 
wise  chief,  and  I ^ hope  you've  got  a  lot  of  brothers 
as  wise  as  yourself.  Good-bye,  Ok^ — shove  off. 
Now,  then,  mind  how  von  steer,  Little  Bill." 


ra 


til 


"il 


OF  THE  KED  KIVEU  PLAINS. 


243 


CHAPTEK   XXIT. 


CIRCUMVENTING  THE  RED-SKINS. 


For  some  time  the  brothers  paddled  about  the 
sedgy  shore  of  the  small  islet  on  which  the  camp 
had  been  pitched,  now  setting  up  a  flock  of  ducks 
and  then  slipping  into  the  heart  of  some  reeds  and 
concealing  themselves  until  a  good  chance  was  ob- 
tained at  a  passing  flock  of  geese. 

Archie  Sinclair  soon  laid  in  enough  provision  to 
serve  the  party  for  a  few  meals,  for  his  hand  was 
steady  and  his  eye  true. 

"  Little  Bill,"  he  said,  looking  back  after  one  of 
his  successful  shots,  "  you  must  take  a  shot  now. 
We  will  go  right-about-face,  and  convert  the  bow 
into  the  stern  in  the  usual  way,  See,  catch  hold  of 
the  gun." 

"  No,  Arch-ee,  as  Oke  calls  you,  I  won't ;  I  'm 
quite  content  to  look  on,  for  your  gun  kicks  like  a 
Mexican  mule.  Besides,  it 's  easy  work  to  steer, 
and  seeing  you  panting  and  toiling  in  the  bow 
makes  it  seem  all  the  easier.  Just  you  keep 
blazin'  away,  old  man.    But,  I  say,  w^iere  shall  I 


3 

J 

i 

It 


244 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNEK.S  :  A  TALE 


In  I 


iti 


Sir 


"** "  :!iii 


:||ti 


^'!' 

!iii 


steer  to  now  ?  I  'm  tired  o'  steering  among  the 
reeds.     Let  us  push  out  into  the  clear  water." 

"  You  heard  what  Ok^  said,"  objected  Archie  ; 
"  we  must  keep  well  clear  o'  both  shores." 

"  I  know  that,"  returned  Bilb'e,  "  but  he  did  not 
forbid  us  to  try  the  reeds  round  the  other  islands ; 
there  :  a  :  .ich  bigger  one,  not  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
up  sti...uu.  I  think  there  are  some  beautiful  sedges 
there  wuere  g  .'*se  are  likely  to  live.  I  'm  sure  I 
would  choose  to  live  in  such  a  place  if  I   was   a 


goose. 


n 


"  0  !  then,  we  must  go.  Little  Bill,  fv->r  I  think  it 
would  be  hard  to  keep  any  one  out  of  his  native 
home." 

So  saying,  he  dipped  his  paddle  with  vigour,  and 
the  light  bark  shot  swiftly  over  the  glancing 
water. 

The  sun  was  beginning  to  descend  towards  the 
western  horizon  when  they  drew  near  to  the  island, 
and  several  flocks  of  water-fowl  had  already  sprung 
alarmed  from  the  reeds,  when  Archie  caught  sight 
of  a  black-and-red-painted  visage  peering  at  him 
from  among  the  bushes. 

The  boy's  heart  seemed  to  bound  into  his  throat 
and  his  first  impulse  was  to  turn  the  canoe  and  fly, 
but  Archie's  mind  was  quicker  even  than  his  hand 
or  eye.  All  he  had  ever  heard  or  read  of  the  cool 
stoicism  of  the  Ked-man  seemed  to  flash  across  his 
memory,  and,  with  a  violent  effort,  he  crushed  back 


1 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


245 


the  shout  that  rose  to  his  lips.  He  could  not 
indeed  suppress  the  look  of  sudden  surprise  that 
swept  across  his  expressive  face,  but  he  cleverly 
adapted  it  to  circumstances. 

"  Look,  look !  Little  Bill,"  he  exclaimed,  eagerly, 
pointing  right  over  the  Indian's  head  at  a  flock  of 
geese  that  opportunely  appeared  at  the  moment  in 
the  far  distance.  "  Crouch,  Bill,  lie  low,  I  '11  call 
them.  Steer  a  little  more  to  the  left  and  keep 
her  so." 

Thereupon  he  began  a  vociferous  ii  tation  of 
the  sounds  with  which  Indians  ar  'TvO^.u  to  call 
to  geese  that  may  chance  to  be  jI^''^''^^  past  at  a 
distance.  The  obedient  Billie  st  ^■^ed  as  directed, 
and  thus  the  canoe  was  slowly  sheered  off  a  little 
from  the  shore.  It  was  cleverly  done.  Whether 
the  savage  was  deceived  or  not  we  cannot  tell,  but 
he  showed  no  sign  of  intention  to  move  or  act, 
though  he  was  within  easy  range  of  the  boys. 

"Little  Bill,"  said  Archie,  in  a  low  voice,  such 
as  one  might  use  when  anxious  not  to  alarm 
game,  "can  you  do  what  you're  bid  at  once  and 
exactly  ? " 

"  I  can  try,"  was  the  quiet  answer. 

"Well,  then,  try  your  best,  Little  Bill;  for  our 
lives  may  depend  on  our  action  now.  Keep  your 
eyes  fixed  on  that  flock  o'  geese  as  long  as  they  're 
in  sight.  DorCt  look  at  the  shore,  whatever  I  do 
or  say.     Look  at  aJiiything  you  like,  but  not  at  the 


J 

i 
ft 

3 


m 

J 

J 

3 


246 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


^1 


1|!t! 

1H.1 


itlji 
llllli 


'I 


shore.  There's  a  Ked-skin  there.  I've  seen  him 
though  he  thinks  I  haven't.  Now,  steer  right 
round  and  go  back  the  way  we  have  just  come,  only 
keep  always  edging  a  little  off-shore." 

As  he  said  this  Archie  raised  himself  from  his 
crouching  attitude,  laid  down  his  gun  and  resumed 
his  paddle,  and  in  his  ordinary  free-and-easy  tones 
exclaimed  — 

"  \Vc  *ve  lost  that  chance,  Little  Bill — more 's  the 
pity." 

"  Never  mind,"  answered  Billie  in  the  same  tone, 
being  resolved  to  act  his  part  well,  "  there 's  lot 's 
more  where  these  came  from.  Better  luck  next 
time.     Where  awav  now  ? " 

"  Keep  her  just  as  you  go,  you  're  far  enough  out 
now.    We  should  start  some  ducks  here." 

Thus  speaking,  and  with  the  air  of  a  leisurely 
man  enjoying  himself — with  infinite  contentment 
on  his  ruddy  countenance,  and  with  much  concern 
in  his  agitated  soul — Archie  took  the  canoe  straight 
past  the  very  spot  where  the  Indian  lay  concealed. 
He  felt  that  audacity  was  the  safest  line  of  action, 
for  he  knew  that  if  the  savage  meant  mischief,  to 
pretend  absolute  ignorance  of  his  existence  would 
be  less  likely  to  draw  a  shot  than  sudden  flight — 
which,  however  swiftly  carried  out,  could  by  no 
means  equal  the  flight  of  a  bullet.  Besides,  it  was 
of  the  utmost  importance  that  he  should  reach  the 
encampment  and  report  what  he  had  seen  without 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


247 


the  Indian  becoming  aware  that  he  had  been 
discovered. 

lu  order  to  effect  his  purpose,  he  not  only  re- 
passed the  hiding-place  of  the  savage  but  actually 
shot  and  picked  up  another  duck  while  still  within 
range  of  the  enemy's  gun.  Then  he  directed  his 
brother  to  steer  still  more  off  the  island,  but  very 
slowly. 

"We're  in  no  hurry,  you  see.  Little  Bill;  you 
haven't  looked  at  the  shore,  I  hope  ? " 

"  Never  once." 

"  Ha !  ha ! "  laughed  Archie  in  high  glee  at  the 
success  of  this  his  first  experiment  in  backwoods 
warfare ;  "  you  're  a  trump.  Little  Bill ! " 

"  I  'd  rather  be  a  trump  than  a  trumpet,  Archie. 
If  there  are  more  Ked-skins  about,  laughing  like 
that  will  be  sure  to  rouse  them." 

"  Never  fear,  Billie,  my  boy.  You  do  as  I  tell  ee. 
We  must  keep  up  the  game  a  bit  longer  yet.  It 
won't  do  to  hurry  back  till  the  sun  is  lower,  so  we  '11 
go  over  to  that  small  island  there  an'  have  a  try  for 
another  duck.  There 's  sure  to  be  nobody  on  such 
a  small  island  as  that.  Afterwards  we  '11  drop  down 
in  an  off-hand,  idle-like  way  to  the  encampment. 
It  '11  be  natural  to  do  this  when  the  evenin's  begin- 
ning to  set  in,  an'  so  we  11  stump  them  Ked-skins 
at  their  own  game.     D'  ee  understand  ? " 

"  Yes.     You  're  a  clever  chap,  Archie." 

In  pursuance  of  this  deeply  laid  plan,  the  brothers 


'1 


i 
n 

5 

W 

If 

3 


248 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


.P 


t', 


crossed  over  to  the  small  islet  referred  to,  and,  after 
apparently  amusing  themselves  there  for  a  short 
time,  dropped  down  stream  in  a  leisurely  way, 
reaching  the  encampment  before  the  evening  had 
fairly  set  in. 

A  council  of  war  was  immediately  held. 

"  You  were  right  in  your  guess,  Okdmatan,"  said 
Davidson.  "The  reptiles  will  be  down  on  us  to- 
night no  doubt.  What  course  does  the  Cree  chief 
advise  ? " 

"  Okdmatan  advises  that  the  kettle  be  boiled,  the 
duck  roasted,  and  a  good  big  supper  eaten." 

"It  iss  fery  pleasant  advice,  no  doubt,"  said 
Fergus  with  a  broad  and  rather  sarcastic  grin,  "  but 
it  iss  not  warlike  ! " 

"It  seems  not  a  bad  preparation  for  war,  any- 
how," said  Dan  ;  "  and  what  after  that  ?  " 

"  The  two  boys  will  sleep  and  rest  while  food  is 
preparing,"  continued  the  chief.  "  The  moon  will 
set  before  we  have  done  eating,  and  it  will  be  very 
dark.  The  Saulteaux  will  not  attack  while  the  light 
lasts.     When  it  is  quite  dark  we  will  go." 

"If  we  fix  to  leave  and  they  chance  to  attack 
at  the  same  time,  it  iss  meetin'  them  we  will  be, 
Okt^matan,"  said  Fergus. 

To  this  rcLiark  the  Indian  vouchsafed  no  reply. 

"  Well,  well.  Muster  Ok(^matan,  it  iss  your  own 
business ;  you  will  know  best  yourself.  I  will  see 
to  stowin'  away  my  supper — whatever." 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


249 


By  the  time  supper  was  over,  the  moon  had 
descended  into  a  bank  of  black  clouds  on  the 
horizon,  and  profound  darkness  brooded  over  land 
and  water.  It  was  a  night  such  ai  an  attacking 
party  would  hail  as  being  most  suitable  for  its  work, 
and  of  course  was  proportionately  unsuitable  for 
the  actacked.  The  Indian  chief  displayed  no  more 
concern  about  it  than  if  nothing  unusual  were 
pending.  After  supper,  however,  he  directed  that 
the  canoes  should  be  launched  and  loaded.  At  the 
same  time  he  gathered  together  as  much  wood  as  he 
could,  and  heaped  it  on  the  fire. 

"You  seem  determined  to  give  them  plenty  of 
light  to  do  their  work,"  remarked  Davidson. 

"  They  will  waib  till  our  fire  burns  low,"  said  the 
chief.  "  By  that  time  they  will  think  we  are 
asleep.  A  sleeping  foe  is  not  dangerous.  They  will 
come — slowly ;  step  by  step ;  with  wide  eyes 
glancing  from  side  to  side,  and  no  noise,  sly  as 
foxes ;  timid  as  squaws !  But  b}''  that  time  we 
will  be  far  on  our  way  back  to  Eed  Eiver !" 

"  Ay — if  we  do  not  meet  them  comin*  to  attack 
us,"  said  Fergus. 

"And  how  shall  we  proceed  !"  asked  Dan. 

"  As  we  came,"  answered  the  chief.  "  Ok^matan, 
with  the  two  boys,  will  lead.  Dan-ell  an'  Fergus 
will  follow.     Come." 

Led  by  their  guide,  the  party  passed  out  of  the 
firelight  into  the  dense  thicket  by  which  the  spot 


J 

i 

) 

II 

J 

4 

m 

9 


250 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


'■*»«  1 


lii; 


was  encompassed  almost  completely,  so  that  the 
only  visible  sign  of  the  encampment  from  outside 
was  the  forks  of  flame  and  sparks  which  rose  high 
above  the  bushes. 

On  reaching  the  shore  they  found  the  two  boys 
holding  the  canoes,  close  to  the  land.  So  intense 
was  the  darkness  that  they  could  not  see  the  boys 
or  canoes  at  all  till  close  beside  them.  Without 
uttering  a  word,  or  making  a  sound  with  their 
moccasined  feet,  they  stepped  into  the  canoes, 
pushed  gently  off,  and  glided,  ghost-like,  into  the 
vast  obscurity. 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


251 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 


A  MIDNIGHT  CHASE,   AND  DAN  IN  EXTREMITY. 


"« 

^ 


For  i^ome  time  they  advanced  in  absolute  silence, 
dipping  their  paddles  so  as  to  make  no  noise  what- 
ever; Dan  following  as  close  as  possible  in  the 
wake  of  the  chief,  for  it  was  one  of  those  nights 
which  people  describe  as  being  so  dark  that  one 
cannot  see  one's  hand  before  one's  face. 

On  reaching  the  lower  end  of  the  lake-like 
expansion  where  the  river  narrowed  suddenly  and 
the  stream  began  to  be  felt,  it  was  discovered  that 
the  enemy  was  in  advance  of  them — that,  antici- 
pating some  such  attempt  at  escape,  they  had  sta- 
tioned an  ambush  at  the  narrows  to  cut  off  their 
retreat. 

Archie  was  naturally  the  first  to  make  this 
discovery,  being  in  the  bow  of  the  canoe.  He 
heard  no  sound,  but  suddenly  there  loomed  out 
of  the  darkness  another  canoe  close  to  them — so 
close  that  they  were  on  the  point  of  running  into 
it  when  the  sharp-witted  boy  saw  it,  and,  with  an 
adroit   turn  of  his   paddle   prevented   a   collision. 


.1 

4 

i 

3 


3 
.1 


252 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


ii 


i' 


Then  he  ceased  to  paddle,  and  held  his  breath. 
Not  knowing  what  to  do  next  he  wisely  did  nothing, 
but  left  matters  to  Oke  and  fate ! 

As  they  passed,  the  steersman  in  the  strange 
canoe  uttered  something  in  a  low  tone.  Evidently 
he  mistook  them  for  his  friends. 

"  Sh ! "  was  Okdmatan's  prompt  reply — or  the 
Indian  equivalent  for  that  caution. 

They  glided  silently  and  slowly  past,  but  the 
suspicion  of  the  strange  Indian  had  obviously  been 
aroused,  for  the  paddles  of  his  canoe  were  heard  to 
gurgle  powerfully.  Hearing  this,  Okematan  made 
a  stroke  that  sent  his  canoe  ahead  like  an  arrow, 
and  Archie,  who  appreciated  the  situation,  seconded 
the  movement. 

"  Stop ! "  exclaimed  the  strange  Indian,  in  the 
Saulteaux  tongue,  but  the  Cree  chief  did  not  fcjl 
the  duty  of  obedience  strongly  upon  him  just  then. 
On  the  contrary,  he  put  forth  all  his  strength,  but 
quietly,  for  he  remembered  that  Dan  Davidson  was 
behind. 

As  there  was  now  no  need  for  concealment,  the 
pursuer  uttered  a  shrill  war-v/hoop  which  was  im- 
mediately answered  and  repeated  until  the  woods 
rang  with  the  fiendish  sound,  while  half-a-dozen 
canoes  dashed  out  from  the  banks  on  either  side, 
and  sought  to  bar  the  river. 

"Now,  Arch-ee,"  said  the  Cree  chief  in  a  low 
voice,  "  paddle  for  your  life  and  be  a  man ! " 


OF  THE  RED  KIVEK  PLAINS. 


253 


*'  I  '11  be  two  men,  if  you  like,  Ok^,"  answered 
the  boy,  whose  courage  was  of  that  type  which 
experiences  something  almost  like  desperate  glee  in 
the  presence  of  imminent  danger. 

The  canoe,  obedient  to  the  double  impulse  and 
the  power  of  the  current,  was  soon  out  of  hearing 
of  the  pursuers. 

"  0 !  if  I  only  had  a  paddle  I  might  help  you," 
said  Little  Bill  eagerly. 

"  Yes,  an'  bu'st  your  biler,  or  explode  your  lungs, 
or  something  o'  that  sort,"  said  his  brother.  "  No, 
nc,  Little  Bill;  you  sit  there  like  a  lord  or  an 
admiral,  an'  leave  men  like  Oke  an'  me  to  do  all 
the  dirty  work." 

While  he  spoke  thus  flippantly  it  is  but  justice 
to  say  that  Archie  was  never  more  anxiously  in 
earnesii  in  his  life,  and  that  he  strained  at  his 
paddle  with  a  degree  of  energy  that  made  him, 
perhaps,  more  than  equal  to  many  an  average  man. 
So  that  the  canoe  forged  well  ahead  of  the  pursuers 
and  finally  got  to  a  part  of  the  river  where  three 
islets  divided  it  into  several  channels,  rendering 
further  pursuit  in  the  dark  useless  if  not  impossible. 

Their  comrades,  however,  were  not  so  fortunate. 
Left  behind  by  the  sudden  spurt  of  his  leader, 
Davidson  and  his  companion  exerted  themselves  to 
overtake  him,  but  the  canoes  of  the  enemy,  which 
were  just  too  late  to  cut  off  the  retreat  of  Okematan, 
were  in  time  to  intercept  the  second  canoe.     In  this 


3 
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254 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


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emergency  Dan  swerved  aside,  hoping  to  get  to  the 
bank  before  the  Saulteaux  could  discover  his  exact 
whereabouts.  His  intentions  were  thwarted  by  the 
want  of  caution  in  his  companion. 

"  Iss  it  to  the  land  ye  are  going  ? "  asked  Fergus. 

"  Yes — it 's  our  only  cliance,"  whispered  Dan. 

"  It  iss  my  opeenion "  murmured  the  High- 
lander. 

"  Hush ! "  ejaculated  Dan. 

But  the  caution  came  too  late.  A  listening  Red- 
skin overheard  the  sounds,  and,  with  a  sudden  dash 
was  alongside  of  them.  He  did  not,  however,  know 
the  vigour  of  the  men  with  whom  he  had  i  o  deal. 
While  he  was  in  the  very  midst  of  a  triumphant 
war-whoop,  Dan  cut  him  over  the  head  with  the 
paddle  so  violently  that  the  instrumer'  became 
splinters,  and  the  whoop  ceased  abi  .iptly ,  At  the 
same  time  Ferqus  caudK  hold  of  the  bow  of  the 
enemy's  canoe  with  irvii  iro  ■.  grasp,  and,  giving  it  a 
heave  that  might  have  put  Samson  to  shame,  fairly 
overturned  it. 

"  Ye  can  wet  your  whustle  now — whatever,"  he 
muttered. 

As  he  spoke,  the  canoe  ran  with  extreme  violence 
against  the  invisible  bank.  At  the  same  moment 
a  random  volley  was  fired  from  the  canoes  in  rear, 
lear  lest  they  should  wound  or  kill  a  comrade 
probpbly  cav.sed  them  to  send  the  whizzing  bullets 
rather  high,  but  for  one  instant  the  flame  revealed 


OF  THE  KKD  lllVEll  PLAINS. 


255 


the  position  of  the  fugitives,  and  those  who  had 
reserv^ed  their  fire  took  better  aim. 

"  Take  to  the  bush,  Fergus ! "  cried  Dan,  as  he 
grasped  his  gun  and  leaped  into  the  shallow  water. 

The  Highlander  stooped  to  lay  hold  of  his  weapon, 
which  lay  in  the  bow  of  the  canoe,  just  as  another 
volley  was  fired.  The  act  was  the  means  of  saving 
his  life,  for  at  least  half-a-dozen  bullets  whizzed 
close  over  his  head.  Before  he  could  recover  him- 
self a  strong  hand  grasped  his  neck  and  flung  him 
backwards.  Probably  a  desperate  hand-to-hand 
fight  would  have  ensued,  for  Fergus  M'Kay  had 
much  of  the  bone,  muscle,  and  sinew,  that  is  charac- 
teristic of  his  race,  but  a  blow  from  an  unseen 
weapon  stunned  him,  and  when  his  senses  returned 
he  found  himself  bound  hand  and  foot  lying  in  the 
bottom  of  a  canoe.  He  could  tell  from  its  motion, 
that  it  was  descending  the  river. 

Meanwhile  Dan  Davidson,  under  the  impressica 
that  his  comrade  was  also  seeking  afety  in  the 
bush,  did  his  best  to  advance  in  c  umstances  of 
which  he  h^A  never  yet  had  expert 'nee,  for,  if  the 
night  was  dark  on  the  open  bosom  of  the  river,  it 
presented  the  blackness  of  Erel  is  in  the  forest. 
Dan  literally  could  not  see  an  inch  in  advance  of 
his  own  nose.  If  he  held  up  his  hand  before  his 
face  it  was  absolutely  invisible. 

In  the  haste  of  the  first  rush  he  had  crashed 
through  a  mass  of  small  shrubbery  with  which  the 


f 

4 

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256 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNEIIS  :   A  TALE 


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bank  of  the  stream  was  lined.  Then  on  passing 
through  that  he  tumbled  head  over  heels  into  a 
hollow,  and  narrowly  missed  breaking  his  gun. 
Beyond  that  he  was  arrested  by  a  tree  with  such 
violence  that  he  fell  and  lay  for  a  minute  or  two 
half-stunned.  While  lying  thus,  experience  began 
to  teach  him,  and  common  sense  to  have  fair  play. 

"  A  little  more  of  this,"  he  thought,  "  and  I  'm  a 
dead  man.  Besides,  if  it  is  difficult  for  me  to 
traverse  the  forest  in  the  dark,  it  is  equally  difficult 
for  the  savages.  My  plan  is  to  feel  my  way  step 
by  step,  with  caution.  That  will  be  the  quietest 
way,  too,  as  well  as  the  quickest.  You  're  an  excited 
fool,  Dan  ! " 

When  a  man  begins  to  think,  and  call  himself  a 
fool,  there  is  some  hope  of  him.  Gathering  himself 
up;  and  feeling  his  gun  all  over  carefully,  to  make 
sure  that  it  had  not  been  broken,  he  continued  to 
advanct  with  excessive  caution,  and,  in  consequence, 
V,  as  ere  long  a  considerable  distance  from  the  banks 
of  the  river,  though,  of  course,  he  had  but  a  hazy 
idea  as  to  what  part  of  the  country  he  had  attained, 
or  whither  he  was  tending. 

As  the  first  excitement  of  flight  passed  away, 
Dan  began  to  feel  uneasy  prickings  of  conscience 
at  having  so  hastily  sought  safety  for  himself, 
though,  upon  reflection,  he  could  not  accuse  him- 
self of  having  deserted  his  comrades.  Okematan 
and   the  boys,  he  had  good  reason  to  believe — at 


Ic 
ai 
ai 
es 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


257 


least  to  hope — had  succeeded  in  evading  the  foe, 
and  Fergus  he  supposed  had  landed  with  himself, 
and  was  even  at  that  moment  making  good  his 
escape  into  the  forest.  To  find  him,  in  the  circum- 
stances, he  knew  to  be  impossible,  and  to  shout  by 
way  of  ascertaining  his  whereabouts  he  also  knew 
to  be  useless  as  well  as  dangerous,  as  by  doing  so  he 
would  make  his  own  position  known  to  the  enemy. 

He  also  began  to  feel  certain  pricking  sensations 
in  his  right  leg  as  well  as  in  his  conscience.  The 
leg  grew  more  painful  as  he  advanced,  and,  on  exa- 
mination of  the  limb  by  feeling,  he  found,  to  his 
surprise,  that  he  had  received  a  bullet-wound  in  the 
thigh.  Moreover  he  discovered  that  his  trousers 
were  wet  with  blood,  and  that  there  was  a  con- 
tinuous flow  of  the  vital  fluid  from  the  wound. 
This  at  once  accounted  to  him  for  some  very  un- 
usual feelings  of  faintness  which  had  come  over 
him,  and  which  he  had  at  first  attributed  to  his 
frequent  and  violent  falls. 

The  importance  of  checking  the  luemorrhage  was 
so  obvious,  that  he  at  once  sat  down  and  did  his 
best  to  bind  up  the  wound  with  the  red  cotton 
kerchief  that  encircled  his  neck.  Ilavini^  ac- 
complishcd  this  as  well  as  he  could  in  the  dark, 
he  resumed  his  journey,  ^nd,  after  several  hours  of 
laborious  scrambling,  at  last  came  to  a  halt  with  a 
feeling  of  very  considerable,  and  to  him  unusual, 
exhaustion. 


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THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


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Again  he  sat  down  on  what  seemed  to  be  a  bed  of 
moss,  and  began  to  meditate. 

"  Impossible  to  go  further ! "  he  thought.  "  I  feel 
quite  knocked  up.  Strange  !  I  never  felt  like  this 
before.  It  must  have  been  the  tumbles  that  did  it, 
or  it  may  be  that  I  've  lost  more  blood  than  I  sup- 
pose. I  '11  rest  a  bit  now,  and  begin  a  search  for 
Fergus  by  the  first  streak  of  dawn." 

In  pursuance  of  this  intention,  the  wearied  man 
lay  down,  and  putting  his  head  on  a  mossy  pillow, 
fell  into  a  profound  sleep,  which  was  not  broken  till 
the  sun  was  ^igh  in  the  heavens  on  the  following 
day. 

When  at  last  he  did  awake,  and  attempted  to  sit 
up,  Dan  felt,  to  his  surprise  and  no  small  alarm, 
that  he  was  as  weak  as  a  child,  that  his  leg  lay  in  a 
pool  of  coagulated  gore,  and  that  blood  was  still 
slowly  trickling  from  the  wound  in  his  thigh. 

Although  disposed  to  lie  down  and  give  way  to 
an  almost  irresistible  tendency  to  slumber,  Dan 
was  too  well  aware  that  death  stared  him  in  the  face 
to  succumb  to  the  feeling  without  a  struggle.  He 
therefore  made  a  mighty  effort  of  will ;  sat  up ; 
undid  the  soaking  bandage,  and  proceeded  to  ex- 
temporise a  sort  of  tourniquet  with  it  and  a  short 
piece  of  stick. 

The  contrivance,  rude  as  it  was,  proved  effectual, 
for  it  stopped  the  bleeding,  but  Dan  could  not  help 
feeling  that  he  had  already  lost  so  much  blood  that 


OF  THE  KED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


259 


he  was  reduced  almost  to  the  last  stage  of  exhaus- 
tion, and  that  another  hour  or  two  would  probably 
see  the  close  of  his  earthly  career.  Nothing,  per- 
haps, could  have  impressed  this  truth  upon  him  so 
forcibly  as  his  inability  to  shout  when  he  tried  to 
do  so. 

In  the  faint  hope  that  Fergus  might  be  within 
call,  he  raised  his  voice  with  the  full  knowledge 
that  he  ran  the  risk  of  attracting  a  foe  instead  of  a 
comrade.  The  sound  that  complied  vvith  the  im- 
pulse of  his  will  would  have  made  him  laugh  if  he 
had  not  felt  an  amazing  and  unaccountable  dis- 
position to  cry.  Up  to  that  period  of  his  life — 
almost  from  his  earliest  babyhood — Dan  Davidson's 
capacious  chest  had  always  contained  the  machinery, 
and  the  power,  to  make  the  nursery  or  the  welkin 
ring  with  almost  unparalleled  violence.  Now,  the 
chest,  though  still  capacious,  and  still  full  of  the 
machinery,  seemed  to  have  totally  lost  the  power, 
for  the  intended  shout  came  forth  in  a  gasp  and 
ended  in  a  sigh. 

It  was  much  the  same  when  he  essayed  to  rise. 
His  legs  almost  refused  to  support  him ;  everything 
appeared  to  swim  before  his  eyes,  and  he  sank 
down  again  listlessly  on  the  ground.  For  the  first 
time,  perhaps,  in  his  life,  the  strong  man  had  the 
conviction  effectually  carried  home  to  him  that  he 
was  mortal,  and  could  become  helpless.  The  ad- 
vantage of  early  training  by  a  godly  mother  became 


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apparent  in  this  hour  of  weakness,  for  his  first  im- 
pulse was  to  pray  for  help,  and  the  resulting  effect 
— whether  men  choose  to  call  it  natural  or  super- 
natural— was  at  least  partial  relief  from  anxiety, 
and  that  degree  of  comfort  which  almost  invariably 
arises  from  a  state  of  resignation. 

After  a  brief  rest,  the  power  of  active  thought 
revived  a  little,  and  Dan,  again  raising  himself  on 
one  elbow,  tried  to  rouse  himself  to  the  necessity  of 
immediate  action  of  some  sort  if  his  life  was  to  be 
saved. 

The  spot  on  which  he  had  lain,  or  rather  fallen 
down,  on  the  preceding  night  happened  to  be  the 
fringe  of  the  forest  where  it  bordered  on  an  ex- 
tensive plain  or  stretch  of  prairie  land.  It  was 
surrounded  by  a  dense  growth  of  trees  and  bushes, 
except  on  the  side  next  the  plain,  wliere  an  opening 
permitted  of  an  extensive  view  over  the  undulating 
country.  No  better  spot  could  have  been  chosen, 
even  in  broad  daylight,  for  an  encampment,  than 
had  been  thus  fallen  upon  by  the  hunter  in  the 
darkness  of  night. 

But  the  poor  man  felt  at  once  that  this  advantage 
could  be  of  no  avail  to  him,  for  in  the  haste  of 
landing  he  nad  thought  only  of  his  gun,  and  had 
left  his  axe,  with  the  bag  containing  materials  for 
making  fire,  in  the  canoe.  Fortunately  he  had  not 
divested  himself  of  his  powder-horn  or  shot-pouch, 
so  he  was  not  without  the  means  of  procuring  food, 


OF  TlIK  liKl)  KIVEU  TLAINS. 


2G1 


but  of  wliuc  use  could  these  be,  lie  reflected,  if  ho 
had  not  strcniith  to  use  them  ? 

Once  again,  in  the  energy  of  deterniinatiun,  he 
rose  up  and  shouldered  his  gun  with  the  intention 
of  making  liis  way  across  the  plain  in  the  hope  that 
he  might  at  all  events  reach  the  wigwam  of  some 
wandering  Indian,  but  he  trembled  so  from  ex- 
cessive weakness  that  he  was  obliged  to  give  up 
the  attempt,  and  again  sank  down  with  feelings 
akin  to  despair. 

To  add  to  his  distress,  hunger  now  assailed  him 
so  violently  that  he  would  have  roasted  and  eaten 
his  moccasins — as  many  a  starving  man  had  done 
before  him,  though  without  much  benefit — but  even 
this  resource  was  denied  him  for  the  want  of  fuc, 
and  raw  moccasin  was  not  only  indigestible  but 
uneatable ! 

Still,  as  it  seemed  his  only  hope,  he  gathered  a 
few  dry  twigs  and  sticks  together,  drew  the  charge 
from  his  gun  and  sought  to  kindle  some  mossy 
lichen  into  flame  by  flashing  the  priming  in  the  pan 
of  the  lock.  Eecent  rains  had  damped  everything, 
however,  and  his  attempts  proved  abortive.  Fortu- 
nately the  weather  was  warm,  so  that  he  did  not 
suffer  from  cold. 

While  he  was  yet  labouring  assiduously  to  ac- 
complish his  purpose,  the  whir  of  wings  was  heard 
overhead.  Glancing  quickly  up,  he  perceived  that 
a  small  flock  of  willow-grouse  had  settled  on  the 


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THE  BUFFALO  RUNNEKfci :  A  TALE 


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bushes  close  to  him.  He  was  not  surprised,  though 
very  thankful,  for  these  birds  were  numerous 
enough  and  he  had  heard  them  flying  about  from 
time  to  time,  but  that  they  should  settle  down  so 
near  was  exceedingly  opportune  and  unexpected. 

With  cai.er  haste  and  caution  he  rammed  home 
the  charge  he  had  so  recently  withdrawn — keeping 
his  eyes  fixed  longingly  on  the  game  all  the  time. 
That  the  birds  saw  him  was  obvious,  for  they  kept 
turning  their  heads  from  side  to  side  and  looking 
down  at  him  with  curiosity.  By  good  fortune 
grouse  of  this  kind  are  sometimes  very  stupid  as 
well  as  tame.  They  did  not  take  alarm  at  Dan's 
motions,  but  craned  their  necks  and  seemed  to  eye 
him  with  considerable  curiosity.  Even  when  he 
tried  to  take  aim  at  them  their  general  aspect 
suggested  that  they  were  asking,  mentally,  "  What 
next  ? " 

But  Dan  found  that  he  could  not  aim.  The  point 
of  the  gun  wavered  around  as  it  -iiiight  have  done  in 
the  hands  of  a  child. 

With  a  short — almost  contemptuous —laugh  at 
his  ridiculous  incapacity,  Dan  lowered  the  gun. 

Stupid  as  they  were,  the  laugh  was  too  much  for 
the  birds.    They  spread  their  wings. 

"Now  or  never!"  exclaimed  Dan  aloud.  He 
pointed  his  gun  straight  at  the  flock  ;  took  no  aim, 
and  fired ! 

The  result  was  that  a  plump  specimen  dropped 


OF  THE  liED  lUVEU  PLAINS. 


263 


almost  at  his  feet.  If  lie  had  been  able  to  cheer  he 
would  have  done  so.  But  he  was  not,  so  he  thanked 
God,  fervently,  instead. 

Again  the  poor  man  essayed  to  kindle  a  fire,  but 
in  trying  to  do  this  with  gunpowder  he  made  the 
startling  discovery  that  he  had  only  one  more 
charge  in  his  powder-horn.  He  therefore  re-loaded 
his  gun,  wiped  out  the  pan  and  primed  with  care, 
feeling  that  this  might  be  the  last  thing  that  would 
stand  between  him  and  starvation.  It  might  have 
stood  between  him  and  something  worse— but  of 
that,  more  hereafter. 

Starving  men  are  not  particular.  That  day  Dan 
did  what  he  would  have  believed  to  have  been,  in 
him,  an  impossibility — he  drank  the  blood  of  the 
bird  and  ate  its  flesh  raw  ! 

"  After  all,"  thought  he,  while  engaged  in  this 
half-cannibalistic  deed,  "  what 's  the  difference  be- 
tween raw  grouse  and  raw  oyster  ? " 

It  is  but  right  to  add  that  he  did  not  philosophise 
much  on  the  subject.  Having  consumed  his  meal, 
he  lay  down  beside  his  gun  and  slept  the  sleep  of 
the  weary. 


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264 


THE   BUFFALO  KUNNEKS  :    A  TALE 


CHAPTEE    XXIV. 


A  DESPERATE  SITUATION. 


Awaking  next  morning  much  refreshed,  but  with 
a  keen  appetite  for  more  grouse,  Dan  Davidson  sat 
up  and  reflected.  He  felt  that,  although  refreshed, 
the  great  weakness  resulting  from  excessive  loss  of 
blood  still  rendered  him  almost  helpless,  and  he 
knew  that  making  new  blood  was  a  process  that 
required  good  feeding  and  considerable  time.  What, 
then,  was  to  be  done  ? 

He  had  scarcely  asked  himself  the  question  when 
a  rustle  in  the  bushes  near  him  caused  him  to  look 
quickly  round  and  seize  his  gun.  But  the  noise 
was  not  repeated,  and  nothing  could  be  seen  to 
justify  alarm.  Still  Dan  felt  that  the  sound  jus- 
tified caution;  he  therefore  kept  his  gun  handy, 
and  loosened  in  its  sheath  the  scalping-knife  which 
he  always  carried  in  his  belt — for  eating  purposes, 
not  for  scalping. 

Thus  he  sat  for  nearly  an  hour  with  an  uncom- 
fortable sensation  that  danger  of  some  sort  lurked 
near  him,  until  he  almost  fell  asleep.     Then,  rousing 


OF  Tin:  KKD  laVEU  PLAINS. 


265 


himself  he  proceeded  to  breakfast  on  the  bones  and 
scraps  of  the  previous  night's  supper. 

"While  thus  engaged  he  tried  to  make  up  his  mind 
what  course  he  ought  to  pursue — whether  to  remain 
where  he  was  until  his  friends  should  have  time  to 
find  hiin — for  he  felt  sure  that  Ok^matan  would 
escape  and  reach  the  Settlement,  in  which  case  a 
search  for  him  would  certainly  be  set  on  foot — or 
whether  he  should  make  a  desperate  effort  to  stagger 
on,  and  ultimately,  if  need  be,  creep  towards  home. 
The  pain  of  his  wound  was  now  so  great  as  to  render 
the  latter  course  almost  impossible.  He  therefore 
resolved  to  wait  and  give  his  friends  time  to  in- 
stitute a  search,  trusting  to  another  shot  at  willow- 
grouse  for  a  supply  of  food. 

He  had  scarcely  made  up  his  mind  to  this  plan 
when  the  rustling  in  the  bushes  was  repeated  again. 
Seizing  his  gun,  which  he  had  laid  down,  Dan  faced 
round  just  in  time  to  see  the  hindquarters  and  tail 
of  a  large  grey  wolf  disappearing  in  the  bushes. 

To  say  that  he  felt  considerable  alarm  when  he 
saw  this  is  not  to  stamp  him  with  undue  timidity, 
for  he  would  have  rejoiced  to  have  had  the  wolf  in 
his  clutches,  then  and  there,  and  to  engage  in  single 
combat  with  it,  weak  though  he  was.  What  troubled 
him  was  his  knowledge  of  the  fact  that  the  mean- 
spirited  and  sly  brute  was  noted  for  its  apparent 
sagacity  in  finding  out  when  an  intended  victim 
was  growing  too  feeble  to  show  fight — either  from 


iv 

til 
m 
lit 

:i 

If 

:) 


266 


THE  BUFFALO  KUNNEKS  :   A  TALE 


ife 


h    A 


wounds  or  old  age — and  its  pertinacity  and  patience 
in  biding  the  time  when  an  attack  could  be  made 
with  safety. 

Had  this  horrible  creature  discerned,  by  some 
occult  knowledge,  that  the  sands  in  his  glass  were 
running  low  ?  Was  it  to  be  his  fate  to  face  his 
glaring  murderer  until  he  had  not  vital  power  left 
to  grapple  with  it,  or  to  guard  his  throat  from  its 
hideous  fangs  1  These  were  questions  which  forced 
themselves  upon  him,  and  which  might  well  have 
caused  the  stoutest  heart  to  shrink  from  the  threat- 
ened and  terrible  doom. 

In  the  strength  of  his  emotion  he  had  almost  fired 
at  a  venture  at  the  spot  where  the  brute  had  dis- 
appeared ;  but  luckily  the  remembrance  that  it  was 
his  last  charge  of  ammunition  came  to  him  in  time, 
and  he  had  the  resolution  to  restrain  himself  even 
when  his  finger  was  on  the  ti'igger. 

Dan  now  perceived  that  he  must  not  venture  to 
remain  on  the  spot  where  he  had  passed  the  night, 
because,  being  surrounded  on  three  sides  by  shrub- 
bery, it  afforded  his  grisly  foe  an  opportunity  to 
approach  from  any  quarter  and  spring  on  him 
the  moment  he  should  find  him  off  his  guard. 

There  was  a  natural  bank  of  earth  out  on  the 
plain  about  three  or  four  hundred  yards  off,  with 
neither  trees  nor  bushes  near  it.  The  bank  was  not 
more  than  four  feet  high,  and  the  top  slightly  over- 
hung its  base,  so  that  it  afforded  some  slight  protec- 


OF  THE  RED  RIVEU  PLAIKS. 


26: 


^i 


tion  from  the  sun.  To  this  spot  Dan  resolved  to 
betake  himself,  and  immediately  began  the  journey— 
for  a  journey  it  surely  was,  seeing  that  the  hunter 
had  to  do  it  on  hands  and  knees,  lifting  his  gun  and 
pushing  it  before  him,  each  yard  or  so,  as  he  went 
along.  The  inflammation  of  his  wound  rendered 
the  process  all  the  slower  and  more  painful,  and  a 
burning  thirst,  which  he  had  no  means  of  slaking, 

t 

added  to  his  misery. 

By  the  time  he  had  passed  over  the  short  distance, 
he  was  so  much  exhausted  that  he  fell  at  the  foot 
of  the  bank  almost  in  a  swoon. 

Evidently  the  wolf  imagined  that  its  time  had 
now  come,  for  it  sneaked  out  of  the  wood  when  the 
hunter  fell,  and  began  cautiously  to  advance.  But 
Dan  saw  this,  and,  making  a  desperate  effort,  arose 
to  a  sitting  posture  ;  leaned  his  back  against  the 
bank,  and  placed  his  gun  across  his  knees. 

Seeing  this,  the  wolf  sat  down  on  its  haunches, 
and  coolly  began  to  bide  its  time. 

"  Ha !  you  brute ! "  muttered  Dan,  "  I  could  easily 
stop  your  mischief  if  my  strength  wasn't  all  gone. 
As  it  is,  I  dare  not  give  you  my  last  shot  till  you 
are  so  close  that  you  can  look  down  the  barrel  o' 
my  gun." 

From  this  point  a  watch  of  endurance  began  on 
both  sides — the  brute,  of  course,  unaware  of  the 
deadly  weapon  which  its  intended  victim  held,  and 
the  man  fully  aware  of  the  fact  that  if  he  should 


m 
til 

.11 


ill 

ill 

A 

.i 

»!# 

.if 
*    $ 

! 


268 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


'* 
*% 


venture  to  lie  down  and  sleep,  his  doom  would  be 
sealed. 

It  is  impossible  for  any  one  who  has  not  had 
trial  of  similar  experiences  to  imagine  the  rush  of 
thought  and  feeling  that  passed  through  the  brain 
and  breast  of  Dan  Davidson  during  the  long  dreary 
hours  of  that  terrible  day.  Sometimes  he  fell  into 
a  half-dreamy  condition,  in  which  his  mind  leaped 
over  forests  and  ocean  to  bonnie  Scotland,  where  his 
days  of  childhood  were  spent  in  glorious  revelry  on 
her  sunny  banks  and  braes.  At  other  times  the 
memory  of  school-days  came  strong  upon  him,  when 
play  and  lessons,  and  palmies  were  all  the  cares  he 
had ;  or,  thoughts  of  Sabbaths  spent  with  his  mother 
-  i;.ow  in  the  church,  now  in  the  fields,  or  at  the 
3oitage  door  learning  Bible  stories  and  hearing 
words  of  wisdom  and  the  story  of  the  crucified  One 
from  her  lips.  Then  the  scene  would  change,  and 
he  was  crossing  the  stormy  ocean,  or  fighting  with 
Red- skins,  or  thundering  after  the  buffalo  on  the 
wide  prairies.  But  through  all  the  varied  fabric  of 
his  thoughts  there  ran  two  distinct  threads,  one 
golden,  the  other  black.  The  first  we  need  hardly 
say  was  Elspie  M'Kay ;  the  second  was  that  awful 
wolf  which  sat  there  glaring  at  him  with  a  hang- 
dog expression,  with  the  red  tongue  hanging  out  of 
its  mouth,  and  from  which  he  never  for  a  moment 
allowed  his  eyes  to  wander. 


As 


evening 


began 


to   draw  on,  the   situation 


b 
h 


II 


OF  THE  RED  IlIVER  PLAINS. 


269 


became  terrible,  for  Dan  felt  that  the  little  strength 
he  had  left  was  fast  sinking.  The  efforts  by  which 
he  had  succeeded  in  rousing  himself  in  the  earlier 
parts  of  the  day  were  failing  of  their  effect.  Then 
a  strange  and  sudden  change  occurred,  for,  while 
he  knew  that  the  end  of  the  trial  was  rapidly 
approaching,  he  began  to  experience  a  feeling  of 
indifference — the  result,  no  doubt,  of  excessive 
weariness — and  almost  a  wish  that  all  was  over. 
Nevertheless,  whenever  that  wolf  moved,  or  changed 
its  position  ever  so  little,  the  instinct  of  self- 
preservation  returned  in  full  force,  and  Dan,  pull- 
ing himself  together,  prepared  to  defend  himself 
desperately  to  the  last  gasp. 

While  the  two  were  thus  glaring  at  each  other, 
Dan  was  startled  and  thoroughly  aroused  from  his 
irresistible  lethargy  by  a  loud  report. 

Next  moment  he  saw  the  wolf  extended  dead 
upon  the  plain. 


;  I 
•  I 


■  i  I 


J 

4 

I 
I 


I 


iJ    I 


270 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


th 
ai 

St 
St 


CHAPTER  XXV. 


It ' 


>!'. 


ADVENTURES  OF  FERGUS  AND  HIS  FRIENDS. 

In  order  to  account  for  the  sudden  death  recorded 
in  the  last  chapter,  we  must  turn  aside  to  follow  for 
a  little  the  fortunes  of  Fergus  M'Kay. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  vigorous  High- 
lander, after  overturning  the  Indian  canoe  and 
running  his  own  canoe  on  shore,  was  seized  by 
the  neck,  while  in  the  act  of  reaching  forward  to 
grasp  his  gun,  and  captured. 

Now,  Fergus  was  of  an  unusually  knowing  and 
wily  nature.  He  possessed  what  some  would  call 
more  than  his  share  of  readiness  in  action  and 
sagacity  in  counsel,  though  his  ordinary  reticence 
and  sluggishness  of  manner  concealed  those  qualities 
to  some  extent. 

Being  endued,  also,  with  more  than  the  average, 
allowance  of  that  bodily  strength  for  which  his 
countrymen  are  famous,  his  first  impulse  was  to 
exert  his  powers  and  show  fight,  but  he  had  been 
taken  suddenly  at  a  disadvantage  and  thrown  on 
his  back  into  the  bottom  of  the  canoe,  and  at  least 


OF  THE  RED  RlVt  :  PLAINS. 


271 


three  pair  of  very  muscular  hands  grasped  his  throat 
and  other  parts  of  his  person.  That  they  were 
strong  hands  he  felt;  that  they  belonged  to  big 
strong  savages  he  had  every  reason  to  believe — 
though  it  was  too  dark  to  see — and  that  scalping- 
knives  and  tomahawks  were  handy  to  them  he  knew 
to  be  highly  probable.  He  therefore  promptly  made 
up  his  mind  as  to  his  course  of  action,  and  at  once 
began  to  play  his  part.  Making  a  very  feeble 
resistance — ^just  enough,  in  short,  to  deceive — he 
begged  for  mercy  in  soft,  rather  tremulous  and 
very  abject  tones.  True,  his  language  /as  English 
— at  least  that  sort  of  English  to  which  the  moun- 
taineers of  Scotland  are  addicted — but  he  trusted 
to  the  tone  and  manner  of  his  speech,  not  to  the 
sense,  which  Saulteaux,  he  knew,  could  not  be 
expected  to  understand. 

"  Oh !  then,  don't  be  hard  on  me.  Don't  kill  me, 
goot  shentlemen,"  he  whined.  "  It  iss  a  poor  worth- 
less thing  I  am — whatever  I " 

These-  remarks,  and  a  few  similar  appeals  for 
mercy,  were  accompanied  with  many  dismal  groans, 
as  his  captors  were  dragging  him  up  the  bank  of 
the  stream.  Pausing  for  a  moment,  one  of  them 
produced  a  cord,  with  which  they  proceeded  to 
bind  their  cowardly  and  unresisting  prisoner. 

Whether  the  Indians  were  deceived  by  their 
victim's  tones  and  manner,  and  the  soft  condition 
of  his  carefully  relaxed  muscles,  we  cannot  tell, 


i! 


i 


I » 
ti 
1 1 
11 
1 1 


r  • 
.  I 
I  I 


4 
I 
f 


272 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


H 

hi- 


V. 
■■•'ima' 


but  it  seemed  as  if  such  were  the  case,  for  some  of 
the  brief  remarks  made  by  his  captors  had  in  them 
a  smack  of  undisguised  contempt,  and  when  the 
cord  was  being  put  round  his  arms  he  felt  that  the 
grip  of  his  captors  was  slightly  relaxed. 

Now  or  never  was  his  chance !  Hurling  the  men 
on  either  side  of  him  right  and  left,  he  delivered 
two  random  blows  in  front,  one  of  which  happily 
took  effect  on  a  savage  chest,  the  other  on  a  savage 
nose,  and  cleared  the  way  in  that  direction.  With 
a  bound  like  that  of  one  of  his  own  mountain  deer, 
he  cleared  the  bank,  and  plunged  into  the  river. 

In  ordinary  circumstances  an  attempt  of  this  kind 
would  have  been  worse  than  useless,  for  the  Indians 
would  not  only  have  jumped  into  their  canoes 
and  overtaken  the  fugitive,  but  some  of  them  would 
have  run  down  the  bank  of  the  stream  to  prevent  a 
landing.  Some  such  attempt  was  indeed  made  on 
the  present  occasion,  but  the  intense  darkness  was 
in  favour  of  Fergus,  and  the  searching  canoes  only 
ran  into  each  other,  while  the  searchers  on  land 
were  still  more  at  a  disadvantage. 

Now,  Fergus  M'Kay  was  as  much  at  home  in 
water  as  an  otter  or  a  musk-rat.  Indeed  he  had 
been  known  among  his  playmates  in  the  old  country 
as  the  "  Water-rat."  When,  therefore,  he  plunged 
into  the  river,  as  described,  he  took  care  to  hold  his 
breath  as  if  for  a  long  dive,  and  drifted  with  the 
current  a  considerable  distance  as  motionless  as  a 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


273 


dead  man.  The  Indians  1  stoned  intently,  of  course  ; 
for  his  coming  to  the  surface ;  for  the  breathing, 
and,  it  might  be,  for  the  splashing  that  would  be 
natural  after  such  a  leap,  but  no  breathing  or 
splashing  met  their  ears,  for  when  Fergus  put  up 
his  head,  far  down  the  stream,  he  only  let  out  his 
nose  and  mouth  for  a  gentle  inspiration,  and  sank 


agam. 


"  It  iss  circumventin*  you  at  your  own  trade, 
fightin*  you  wi'  your  own  claymore,  that  I  will  be 
doin*,"  he  thought,  as  he  rose  a  second  time,  and 
swam  softly  with  the  stream. 

Fergus  had  the  advantage  of  being  well  acquainted 
with  the  river  in  which  he  was  swimming,  as  well 
as  with  the  lands  in  its  neighbourhood,  and  he 
knew  that  there  was  a  certain  bend  in  the  stream 
which  it  would  take  the  canoe  of  Ok^matan  a  con- 
siderable time  to  traverse.  By  cutting  across  a 
narrow  neck  of  land  there  was,  therefore,  a  possi- 
bility of  his  intercepting  the  canoe. 

The  Saulteaux,  of  course,  might  have  also  taken 
advantage  of  this  circumstance,  but  they  could  have 
done  so  only  on  foot,  and  they  knew  that  without 
canoes  they  could  not  arrest  the  progress  of  the 
fugitives. 

Beaching  the  spot  where  he  wished  to  land,  by 
intuition  almost,  the  Highlander  soon  found  him- 
self on  the  bank,  squeezed  the  water  out  of  his 
garments,  and  set  off  as  quickly  as  he  dared  in  such 

s 


4 
I 
t 

« 


i 


274 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


^K, 


'^! 


darkness.  By  goocl  fortune  he  happened  to  cross 
a  hunter's  track  or  path — like  a  sheep-run — with 
which  he  was  familiar,  and,  by  following  it,  was  able 
to  advance  much  more  rapidly.  In  a  short  time  he 
again  came  out  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river.  There 
he  sat  down  on  a  boulder  to  listen.  Profound  was 
his  attention  to  every  sound — as  profound,  almost, 
as  his  anxiety,  for  he  knew  that  if  the  canoe  should 
have  already  passed  he  would  be  obliged  to  make 
his  way  back  to  the  Settlement  on  foot  by  a  straight 
course,  which  meant  a  slow,  toilsome  march,  scram- 
bling through  pathless  woods,  wading  morasses,  and 
swimming  across  rivers. 

He  had  been  seated  thus  for  about  lialf-an-hour, 
and  in  his  impatience  was  giving  way  to  despon- 
dency, when  the  plash  of  water  smote  upon  his  ear. 
Cocking  the  said  ear  attentively,  he  was  rewarded 
with  another  smite,  and,  in  a  few  minutes,  distinctly 
heard  the  sound  of  paddles. 

He  put  his  hands  to  his  mouth  forthwith,  and 
uttered  a  peculiar  cry. 

Instantly  the  sound  of  the  paddles  ceased  as 
Archie  Sinclair,  looking  over  his  shoulder,  said — 

"  Did  you  hear  that,  Ok4  ? " 

Before  Okd  could  reply,  the  cry  was  repeated. 

"  It  is  Fer-gus,"  said  the  Indian,  answering  to  the 
cry,  and  steering  in  the  direction  whence  it  came. 

"  Are  you  sure,  Oke  ? " 

*'Ok^matan  never  speaks  till  he  is  sure — waugh!" 


OF  THE  RKD  lUVEll  PLAINS. 


27(; 


and 


as 


"H'm!  I'm  not  so  sure  o'  that^'  muttered  the 
boy  to  himself. 

A  few  seconds  put  the  matter  at  rest,  for  the 
voice  of  the  Highlander  was  heard,  as  they  cautiously 
drew  near,  saying — 

"  Iss  it  you  ? " 

"  I  think  it  is  !"  replied  Archie; "  why,  man,  where 
are  you  ?     I  can  see  nothing." 

"  Wow  !  man,  but  I  am  gled,"  said  Fergus ;  "just 
follow  your  nose,  Archie,  an'  you  '11  be  all  right." 

Another  moment,  and  the  canoe  was  checked  by 
Fergus,  who  had  stepped  into  tlie  water  to  prevent 
its  being  injured  against  the  stones. 

"  You  better  gie  me  the  paddle,  Archie,  an'  sit 
beside  Little  Bill.  It  iss  tired  o'  padcllin'  you  will 
be  by  now." 

"  But  where  is  Dan  ? "  asked  Arc-hie  as  he  com- 
plied with  this  request. 

"  That  iss  more  than  I  can  tell  you,  boy,  but  he 's 
safe  enough  I  doubt  not,  for  I  heard  him  gie  a  cheer 
as  he  jamp  into  the  wuds,  an'  it 's  beyont  the  power 
o'  a  mortal  Eed-skiu  to  chase  an  active  man  on  a 
night  like  this." 

Thereupon  Fergus  gave  a  brief  account  of  all  that 
had  happened  after  the  canoes  were  parted — as  far 
as  he  knew  it — and  then  an  earnest  council  of  war 
was  held  as  to  what  was  the  best  course  to  pursue 
in  the  circumstances.  Being  the  youngest  brave 
(for  Little  Bill  was  ignored  in  this  matter),  Archie 


276 


THE  BUFFALO  KUNNERS  :  A  TALK 


%^ 


m 


^p 


»C  '>»l||! 


^.il 


ll! 


was  invited  to  give  his  ojinion  first.  This  was 
well,  becaus'^,  being  enthusiastic  and  irrepressible, 
he  would  probably  have  given  his  opinion  first  at 
any  rate. 

"My  opinion  is,"  he  said,  promptly,  "that  we 
turn  right  about,  and  go  back  to  find  Dan,  even 
though  we  should  have  to  fight  the  whole  Saulteaux 
nation ! " 

"  That  iss  well  spoken,"  said  Fergus  with  some- 
thing of  sarcasm  in  his  tone;  "but  as  we  hev 
only  two  guns  amang  us,  a  tomahawk,  an'  a  knife 
or  two,  without  any  claymores  at  all,  I  would  like 
to  know  what  we  are  to  fecht  with  ?  Moreover, 
what  is  to  become  o'  Little  Bill  when  we  are 
fechtin'  ?  It  iss  my  opeenion  that  we  put  the  com- 
mand o'  our  expeedition  in  the  hands  of  Ok^matan, 
an'  leave  him  to  do  what  he  thinks  best." 

"  Arch-ee  is  a  true  brave,"  said  the  Indian,  "  but 
he  is  young.  When  the  wrinkles  of  age  are  on  iiis 
brow  he  will  be  a  great  chief.  Ok^matan's  heart 
is  with  him  to  turn  back  and  fight,  but  wisdom  says, 
go  to  the  Settlement,  get  men,  and  return  as  fast  as 
you  can." 

"  Then  the  sooner  we  set  about  it  the  better,  for 
when  wan's  mind  is  made  up,  talk  iss  only  lost  time." 

With  that  he  shoved  the  canoe  off  into  the  stream, 
and  paddling  was  resumed  with  redoubled  vigour. 

They  proceeded  in  silence  till  the  blush  of  rosy 
day  in  the  east  dispelled  the  intense   darkness. 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


277 


Then,  pulling  ashore,  they  kindled  a  small  fire,  and, 
while  the  chief  re-gummed  the  seams  of  the  canoo, 
which  leaked  a  little,  the  others  prepared  and  ate  a 
hasty  breakfast. 

They  were  still  engaged  with  this  meal,  and  dis- 
cussing, not  very  hopefully,  the  possibility  of  reach- 
ing Red  River  Settlement  and  returning  in  time  to 
render  relief  to  Dan — supposing  that  he  should 
require  relief — when  the  sound  of  fast-dipping 
paddles  was  heard  beyond  the  bend  of  the  river 
just  below  them. 

Another  moment,  and  four  large  canoes,  each 
manned  by  eight  men,  swept  into  view,  their  red 
sides  glowing  in  the  morning  sun,  and  their  oc- 
cupants driving  the  water  behind  them  in  foam 
by  the  vigour  of  their  strokes. 

At  first  it  was  supposed  that  this  was  another 
band  of  Indians  proceeding,  possibly,  to  join  that 
from  which  they  had  just  escaped ;  but  the  fugitives 
were  speedily  undeceived  by  the  appearance  of  the 
men  as  they  drew  nearer. 

"  I  would  be  thinkin'  that  the  man  in  the  bow  o* 
the  first  canoe  is  Antoine  Dechamp,"  said  Fergus, 
as  he  stood  peering  over  the  bushes  at  the  ad- 
vancing brigade. 

"  I  'm  sure  it 's  Dechamp.  I  'd  know  him  a  miie 
off,"  said  Archie. 

"  Ay,  an'  they  hev  got  sight  o'  the  smoke  of  our 
fire,  too,"  added  Fergus. 


278 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


bl 


'  I, 


"  It  is  Dechamp,"  said  Okdmatan,  decisively  ,as 
he  stepped  into  the  open  and  held  up  his  hand  to 
the  new  arrivals. 

A  cheer  was  raised  by  those  in  the  canoes  when 
the  Cree  chief  was  recognised,  and  the  flotilla, 
coming  on  at  full  speed,  soon  reached  the  bank. 

Explanations  weve  speedily  exchanged,  and  our 
fugitives  learned  that  news  had  been  carried  to  the 
Settlement  of  the  approach  of  the  very  band  of 
Saulteaux  whom  they  had  encountered,  and  a  band 
of  fiery  young  men,  led  by  Dechamp,  had  come  out 
to  meet  them  for  the  purpose  of  asking  them 
whether  they  meant  their  visit  to  be  friendly,  or 
whether  they  wished  to  measure  their  strength  with 
the  men  of  Eed  River ;  as,  if  so,  a  sample  had  come 
out  for  the  express  purpose  of  accommodating  them ! 

On  hearing  the  news  that  Ok(^matan  and  Fergus 
had  to  give,  the  men — most  of  whom  were  half- 
breeds  connected  with  Cree  families — gave  a  cheer 
and  voted  for  an  immediate  advance  against  the 
Saulteaux.  This,  after  very  brief  palaver,  was 
unanimously  agreed  to. 

"  You  '11  not  object  to  return  with  us,  I  suppose  ?  " 
asked  Dechamp  of  Fergus. 

"  Iss  it  objectiu'  to  a  fecht  you  will  mean  ? " 

"Well — it's  not  unlikely  that  there  may  be 
something  of  the  sort  going  if  we  meet." 

"  Did  you  ever  hear  of  a  M'Kay  objectiu'  to  a 
fecht,  Antoine  ? " 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


279 


Dechamp  laughed. 

"  Well,"  he  said,  "  I  know  Ok^matan  won't  object 
to  turn  back,  and  show  us  the  way  to  the  place 
where  he  met  the  reptiles." 

"Ok^niatan  was  on  his  way  to  seek  for  help," 
said  the  Indian  quietly. 

Every  one  being  agreed  on  this  point,  the 
whole  band  re-embarked,  and  proceeded  on  their 
way  up  the  river.  They  advanced  rapidly,  for 
although  the  stream  was  against  them  it  was  so 
sluggish  as  to  be  scarcely  appreciable,  and  by 
keeping  near  to  the  banks  they  were  not  delayed 
by  it  at  all. 

Towards  the  afternoon  the  place  where  the 
struggle  had  taken  place  was  reached,  but  no 
Saulteaux  were  to  be  seen.  They  had  taken  their 
departure,  and,  from  the  fact  that  several  small 
things  belonging  to  them  had  been  left  behind,  it 
seemed  not  unlikely  that  they  had  obtained  im- 
formation  of  the  expedition  sent  out  against  them, 
and  had  departed  in  haste. 

"  It  iss  of  no  use,"  said  Fergus,  when  this  became 
evident, "  for  us  to  keep  up  a  stern-chase  after  them. 
They  have  got  too  much  of  a  start,  so  it  seems  to 
me,  boys,  we  could  not  do  better  than  follow  up 
the  tracks  of  Daniel  Davidson  an'  make  sure  that 
he  has  got  clear  away  from  them." 

To  this  proposal  there  was  much  objection  at  first, 
for  it  involved  some  of  the  party  quitting  the  canoes 


I 
I 


280 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS:  A  TALE 


and  journeying  no  one  could  tell  how  far  through 
the  woods  on  foot. 

"  Besides,"  said  one,  "  Dan  is  quite  able  to  take 
care  of  himself,  and  if  he  got  off  in  the  dark,  as  you 
tell  us  he  did,  there 's  not  a  man  in  the  Saulteaux 
nation  could  come  up  with  him  either  in  dark  or 
light." 

"  That  may  be  all  fery  true,  my  frund,"  returned 
Fergus,  "  nevertheless  I  'm  goin'  to  follow  up  his 
track,  for  it  is  sure  that  he  took  no  proveesions  wi* 
him,  an'  it  was  too  dark  for  me  to  see  if  he  escaped 
wi'  his  gun.  Dan  is  a  strong  man,  but  the  strongest 
man  will  be  findin'  himself  in  diffeeculties  without 
grub.  It  iss  followin'  np  his  trail  I  will  be  doin*, 
wi'  some  proveesions  on  my  back,  if  wan  or  two 
o'  you  will  go  wuth  me." 

"I  will  go,"  said  Archie  Sinclair,  promptly,  "if 
some  o'  you  will  promise  to  take  care  o'  Little  Bill." 

A  laugh  greeted  this  offer,  and  half-a-dozen  of  the 
men  at  once  agreed  to  take  good  care  of  the  invalid. 

"  Moreover,"  said  Dechamp,  "  whoever  goes  need 
not  go  further  than  the  Pine  Portage.  The  party 
on  foot  will  have  found  out,  before  the  canoes  reach 
that,  whether  Dan  has  got  clear  off,  and  they  can 
rejoin  the  canoes  at  the  Portage.  So,  Fergus,  I  '11 
join  your  party  too.    Who  else  will  go  ? " 

Ok^matan  and  Jacques  Bourassin  here  stepped 
forward,  but  none  of  the  others  seemed  disposed  to 
undertake  the  tramp. 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


281 


"There  iss  enough  of  us — whatever,"  remarked 
the  Highlander  as  he  and  the  others  put  some 
provisions  into  their  wallets  and  shouldered  their 
guns.  "  You  will  be  our  leader,  Antoine  Dechamp. 
It  iss  yourself  that  knows  the  outs  an'  ins  o*  the 
land  better  than  any  of  us — except  Okdmatan,  may 
be — but  I  dar'  say  he 's  not  as  weel  acquaint  wi' 
the  Ked  Eiver  woods  as  wi'  the  plains." 

The  chief  bowed  a  dignified  assent  to  this  pro- 
position, which,  however,  he  hardly  understood. 

Dechamp,  being  accustomed  to  lead,  accepted  the 
position  at  once,  stepped  off  on  the  trail  of  Dan, 
which  had  been  made  distinctly  visible  when  he 
went  crashing  through  the  underwood  the  day  be- 
fore.    Fergus  followed,  and  Bourassin  came  third. 

"  Now,  then,"  said  Archie,  looking  into  the  chief's 
face,  "  come  along,  Ok6.  You  and  I  will  form  the 
rearguard,  which  is  the  position  of  danger  and 
honour  in  warfare  o'  this  sort — at  least  if  it  isn't, 
it  ought  to  be.  Take  care  o'  yourself.  Little  Bill. 
We  '11  soon  find  Dan.     Good-bye." 

So  saying,  the  rearguard  of  the  column  vanished 
into  the  forest,  and  the  others,  returning  to  their 
canoes,  began  to  descend  the  river. 

Archie  was  nearer  the  mark  than  he  imagined 
when  he  said  they  would  soon  find  Dan.  The 
distance  which  it  had  taken  our  hero  so  long  to 
traverse  in  the  dark  was  comparatively  short,  and 
the  light  was  only  beginning  to  fade  when  they 


282 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS :   A  TALE 


came  to  the  edge  of  the  wood  where  Dan  had  spent 
the  night. 

Dechamp,  of  course,  was  first  to  come  upon  his 
encampment,  and  the  instant  he  entered  it  he  ob- 
served the  open  space  giving  a  view  of  the  plain 
beyond.  He  also  saw  the  wolf  sitting  on  his 
haunches  about  two  hundred  yards  off. 

Quick  as  the  lightning  flash  his  gun  flew  to  his 
shoulder.  Dechamp  was  a  first-rate  shot.  He  fired, 
and,  as  we  have  seen,  the  wolf  stretched  himself  in 
death  upon  the  plain. 

Thus  was  Dan  Davidson  rescued  at  almost  the 
eleventh  hour. 


£ 


c 
1 


■v, 


lit 


spent 


OF  THE  llED  RlVEli  PLAINS. 


283 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 


HOME-COMINO  AND  BAROAININO. 


The  return  of  the  hunting  party  to  Red  River 
Settlement  was  an  illustration  of  the  uncertainty 
of  all  human  affairs.  They  went  forth  rejoicing 
in  all  the  strength  of  youth  and  manhood;  they 
returned  in  sorrow,  with  one  at  least  of  the  strong 
men  reduced  to  the  last  stage  of  weakness. 

We  would  not  be  understood  to  refer  to  this  in  a 
pessimistic  spirit.  On  the  contrary,  the  optimistic 
view  suggests  the  very  same  idea  of  uncertainty, 
though  in  a  pleasant  aspect;  for  does  not  many 
a  day  that  dawns  in  cloud  and  rain  progress  to 
brilliant  sunshine  ?  while  equally  true  it  is  that  many 
a  life  which  begins  in  sorrow  culminates  in  joy. 

Ok^matan,  who  was  intensely  philosophical  and 
inquisitive,  had  been  carrying  on  a  semi-speculative 
conversation  with  Billie  on  this  very  subject  whUe 
descending  the  Red  River  towards  Prairie  Cottage — 
much  to  the  perplexity  of  the  invalid,  who  scarce 
knew  how  to  answer  the  chief's  queries,  and  greatly 
to  the  interest  of  Archie,  who  wondered  at  Little 
Bill's  powers  of  reply. 


^4 


"li 


ID    .1 


I   ■\ 


n-' 


284 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


"  By  the  way,"  said  Archie,  "  when  you  two  have 
settled  that  knotty  point,  will  you  tell  me  who  is  to 
take  the  news  of  Dan's  accident  to  Mrs.  Davidson  ? 
We  '11  have  to  carry  him  up  to  the  hour,e,  you  know, 
on  a  blanket  'tween  two  poles,  an'  sb  j  '11  be  sure  to 
think  that  he 's  dead,  or  has  been  killed,  an'  that  '11 
half-kill  her,  it  '11  give  her  such  a  fright.  Somebody 
will  have  to  go  on  ahead  and  tell  her." 

"  I  will,  if-  you  like,"  said  Billie ;  "  if  you  '11  only 
carry  me  up  to  the  garden  gate  and  set  me  down,  I 
can  easily  walk  up  the  path." 

This  proposal  had  just  been  agreed  to  when  the 
whole  flotilla  of  canoes  paddled  up  alongside  of  the 
bank  close  under  Prairie  Cottage. 

It  was  evening  at  the  time.  The  Davidson  family 
was  at  supper,  and  as  the  canoes  had  approached 
very  quietly,  with  Dan  in  the  leading  one,  no  person 
stood  on  the  bank  to  welcome  them. 

"It's  as  well  they  don't  know,"  said  Archie, 
jumping  on  shore.  "  Now,  Little  Bill,  come  along, 
and  I  '11  carry  you  to  the  gate  while  they  're  arrang- 
ing matters  for  Dan." 

Seated  at  the  foot  of  the  family  table  was  Peter 
Davidson.  He  could  see  the  garden  path  through 
the  window. 

"Hallo!  mother,"  he  exclaimed,  dropping  his 
knife  and  fork,  "  there  is  Little  Bill  or  his  ghost 
coming  up  the  track." 

"Impossible,  Peter,"  said  the   good  lady,  with, 


h( 
li 

u1 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


285 


however,  a  look  of  anxiety  which  showed  she  he- 
lieved  that,  or  something  else,  to  be  quite  possible. 

"  Look  for  youself,  mother,"  cried  Peter,  springing 
lip  and  running  out. 

"  It  is  Billie,"  said  Jessie,  reflecting  her  mother's 
anxiety ;  "  what  can  have  brought  them  back  so 
soon  ? " 

Peter  re-entered  at  the  moment  with  Little  Bill  in 
his  arms.     He  set  the  boy  down  and  again  ran  out. 

Taking  the  widow's  trembling  hand  in  both  of 
his,  Billie  addressed  her  as  "  mother,"  like  the  rest 
of  the  family. 

"Dan  has  been  hurt,"  he  said,  in  his  soft  way, 
"  and  he 's  come  home  to  get  well.  They  will  bring 
him  up  directly." 

"  Is  he  too  ill  to  walk  ? "  asked  the  widow. 

"No,  not  too  ill — but  too  weak,"  answered  the 
matter-of-fact  Billie.  "  Indeed  he  is  not  ill  at  all, 
but  he  has  lost  a  heap  of  blood,  for  they  shot  him." 

Jessie  waited  to  hear  no  more,  but  immediately 
followed  Peter,  and  the  small  servant  Louise  followed 
suit ;  leaving  the  widow  in  a  half-fainting  condition 
with  the  boy.  But  she  did  not  remain  long  thus, 
for  just  then  old  Duncan  M'Kay  entered  by  the 
back  door. 

"  It  will  be  bad  news  you  've  been  hearin',  Mrs. 
Davidson,"  he  said,  in  some  surprise,  pouring  out  a 
glass  of  water  as  he  spoke,  and  considerately  handing 
it  to  the  widow. 


* 


i 


h 


,t  I 


;i  I 


! 


286 


THE  BUFFALO  IlUNNKUS  :    A  TALK 


"Yes — 0  yes!  I've  just  heard  that  Dan  has 
been  shot." 

"  Bless  my  soul ! "  exclaimed  the  horrified  old 
man,  almost  falling  into  a  chair.  "  Iss — iss  he  tead  ? " 

"  No,  thank  God — only  weak  from  loss  of  blood. 
He  '11  be  here  directly." 

"That  iss  goot  news — whatever;  for  as  long  as 
there 's  life  there  's  hope." 

Trying  to  comfort  himself,  as  well  as  his  friend, 
with  this  truism,  the  old  man  staggered  out  of  the 
house  in  search  of  those  who  had  gone  before. 

Soon  a  sad  procession  was  seen  coming  up  the 
path,  led  by  Archie.  Four  men  carried  Dan  on  a 
rudely-extemporised  litter.  His  bloodless  face  and 
lips  gave  him  the  appearai  ze  of  death,  but  the  glow 
in  his  eyes  told  of  still  unexhausted  life. 

"  I  '11  be  all  right,  mother,"  he  said  feebly,  as  they 
laid  him  on  his  bed.  "  I  only  want  food  and  rest. 
Thank  God — home  at  last ! " 

As  he  spoke,  a  quiet  step  was  heard,  and  Elspie, 
with  a  face  as  pale  as  his  own,  knelt  by  his  bed- 
side and  took  his  hand. 

That  touch  was  the  first  impulse  the  youth 
received  towards  decided  recovery.  Old  M'Kay 
perceived  the  change  in  his  countenance. 

"  Yes,  yes !  ay,  ay ! "  he  exclaimed,  pacing  vio- 
lently up  and  down  the  room,  "he  wants  nothin' 
but  victuals  an'  rest — steaks  an'  shops,  and  plenty 
o'  whusky  an'  water — hot.     Don't  be  croodin*  about 


hi 
to 


OF  THE  IJKI)  KIVKU  IM-A1N3. 


287 


n  has 

id  old 
ead  ? " 
blood. 


vng  as 


riend, 
|of  the 

p  the 

on  a 

!e  and 

!  glow 

J  they 
I  rest. 

llspie, 
bed- 

'outh 
'Kay 

vio- 
thin' 
enty 
bout 


him  an'  botheriii'  him.  Come  away,  and  leave  him 
to  his  mother,  an'  send  for  the  doctor.  Has  no  wan 
gone  for  him  yet  ? " 

"  Yes  ;  Peter  has  just  started.  I  heard  the  clatter 
of  his  horse's  feet,"  said  Jessie. 

"  It  iss  not  the  doctor  that  will  put  him  right, 
whatever,"  muttered  the  old  man,  as  he  left  the 
room,  followed  by  most  of  the  family. 

And  the  doctor  himself  held  the  same  opinion  ; 
for  he  said,  on  returning  to  the  reception  hall  after 
seeing  his  patient,  "  It  will  be  a  considerable  time 
before  he  recovers,  for  the  fountain  of  life  had 
been  well-nigh  drained  when  he  fortunately  extem- 
porised that  tourniquet.  But  there  's  no  fear  of  him  : 
all  that  he  wants  is  food,  rest,  and  peace  of  mind." 

"  An  whusky,  doctor,"  added  old  M'Kay.  "  Don't 
forget  the  best  pheesic  ;  an'  I  hev  goot  store  of  it, 
too,  in  my  cellar  at  Ben  Nevis," 

"  I  'm  not  so  sure  about  the  whisky,  Mr.  M'Kay," 
returned  the  doctor  with  a  laugh.  "  I  think  we 
shall  manage  to  pull  him  through  without  that." 

The  other  requisites  for  recovery  were  applied 
without  stint  at  Prairie  Cottage  ;  for,  despite  the 
misfortune  which  had  attended  the  cultivation  of 
the  soil,  the  Davidsons  had  a  little  money,  which 
enabled  them  to  buy  provisions  and  other  necessaries, 
obtainable  from  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  and  thus 
tide  over  the  disastrous  year  in  greater  comfort  than 
fell  to  the  lot  of  many  of  the  other  settlers. 


288 


THE  BUFFALO  IlUNNEIlS  :  A  TALE 


) 


I 


■%'>.     :  I 


I! 


S  , 


Thus  Dan  was  well  looked  after.  His  brother 
Peter  found  the  food — at  least  much  of  it — on  the 
prairie  and  in  the  woods ;  his  sister  Jessie  cooked 
it ;  Louise  helped,  looked  on,  and  learned ;  home 
afforded  rest ;  Elspie  supplied  the  peace  of  mind — at 
least  as  much  of  it  as  it  was  possible  for  a  fellow- 
mortal  to  supply  ;  and  his  mother  superintended  all. 
Add  to  this  that  Archie  Sinclair  cheered  him  with 
miscellaneous  gossip ;  that  Little  Bill  read  to  him, 
or  entertained  him  with  serious  talk  and  grave 
speculation ;  that  Andrei  Morel  and  his  sister  often 
entertained  him  with  song ;  that  on  such  occasions 
Jenkins,  the  sailor,  frequently  amused  him  with 
nautical  tales ;  that  old  Peg  sometimes  came  from 
Ben  Nevis  to  gaze  at  him  tenderly ;  and  that  Oke- 
matan  came  to  glare  at  him  more  or  less  affection- 
ately— and  we  have  said  enough  to  warrant  the 
conclusion  that  Dan  Davidson  had  a  pretty  good 
time  of  it  in  spite  of  his  weak  condition. 

Nevertheless  Dan  was  not  quite  happy.  He  could 
not  get  rid  of  the  memory  of  Henri  Perrin's  murder, 
and  the  terrible  thought  that  Elspie's  brother  Duncan 
had  some  sort  of  guilty  knowledge  of  it.  These 
thoughts  he  buried  deep,  however,  in  his  own  breast, 
and  even  tried  to  forget  them.  Vain  effort !  for  does 
it  not  stand  to  reason  that  the  thing  we  strive  most 
earnestly  to  forget  is  the  very  thing  which,  by 
that  effort,  we  are  rixing  with  a  deeper  stamp  on 
memory  ? 


:i!i 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


289 


Franqois  La  Certe  was  somewhat  exercised  about 
the  same  question,  about  the  same  time. 

That  estimable  member  of  the  colony  was 
seated  one  fine  day  on  the  banks  of  the  river 
fishing  for  goldeyes — a  small  fish  about  the  size  of 
a  plump  herring.  His  amiable  spouse  was  help- 
ing, or  rather  fishing  with  him.  It  was  a  fine 
healthy,  contemplative  occupation  ;  one  that  ad- 
mirably suited  their  tendency  to  repose,  and  at  the 
same  time  filled  them  with  that  virtuous  sensation 
which  awaits  those  who  know  that  they  are  engaged 
in  useful  occupation — for  were  not  goldeyes  the  best 
of  eating  ? 

Branches  of  trees  were  their  primitive  rods,  twine 
their  simple  lines,  grasshoppers  their  bait,  and  a 
violent  jerk  their  method. 

"  Slowfoot ! "  said  La  Certe. 

"  My  husband  ! "  or  some  such  Indian  phrase, 
answered  the  woman. 

**  I  have  been  wondering  for  a  long  time  now  why 
— hi ! — no  !  I  thought  there  was  something  at  my 
bait — but  it  was  deception.  Nothing  is  so  unreal 
as  the  bite  of  the  goldeye — when  it  is  not  there. 
It  brings  to  mind  the  lights  in  the  sky  of  winter, 
which  dance  and  shoot — and  yet  they  are  not. 
Hi !  ho ! — I  have  him.  I  was  mistaken.  I  thought 
the  fish  loas  not— but  it  was." 

While  speaking  La  Certe  sent  a  small  fish  with 
bursting  violence  on  the  grass  behind  him.    Almost 


290 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


I 


iiii' 


'■     :il 


^^i 


i 


It 


at  the  same  moment  Slowfoot  landed  another,  with 
less  violence  and  more  coolness. 

"  What  was  I  saying,  Slowfoot  ? "  asked  the  half- 
breed,  when  the  hooks  had  been  re-baited,  and 
their  eyes  were  riveted  on  their  respective  floats. 

"  Nothing  that  any  one  could  remember," 
answered  his  truthful  spouse. 

"  Now  I  remember — ho !  was  that  another  ? " 

"No,  it  was  not,"  answered  his  matter-of-fact 
helpmate. 

"  Where  is  our  child  ? "  asked  the  father,  witli 
that  wayward  wandering  of  mind  which  is  a  not 
uncommon  characteristic  of  genius. 

"  Smoking  in  the  tent,"  answered  the  mother. 

"  And  with  my  pipe,  no  doubt,"  said  the  father, 
laying  down  his  rod  and  searching  in  the  bag  in 
which  he  was  wont  to  carry,  among  other  things, 
his  pipe  and  tobacco. 

A  cry  of  pain  from  tL:  tent  in  question — which 
was  close  behind  the  pair — apprised  the  parents  that 
something  was  wrong.  Immediately  their  first  and 
only  one  issued  with  a  tobacco  pipe  in  one  hand  and 
a  burnt  finger  on  the  other.  It  came  to  the  father 
for  sympathy,  and  j^'ot  it.  That  is  to  say.  La  Certe 
put  the  burnt  finger  in  his  mouth  for  a  moment, 
and  uttered  some  guttural  expressions  of  sympathy. 
Having  thus  fulfilled  duty  and  relieved  conscience, 
he  exchanged  the  finger  for  the  pipe-stem,  and  began 
to  smoke.    The  spoiled,  as  well  as  despoiled,  child 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


291 


er,  with 

le  half- 
5d,  and 
ats. 
Jinber," 

?" 

* 

-of-fact 

r,  witli 
a  not 

sr. 

father, 
bag  in 

bhings, 

which 
ts  that 

t  and 
id  and 
father 

Certe 
)ment, 
pathy. 
dence, 
began 

child 


uttered  a  howl  of  indignation,  and  staggered  off  to 
its  mother;  but  she  received  it  with  a  smile  of 
affectionate  indifference,  whereupon  the  injured 
creature  went  back  to  the  tent,  howling,  and, 
apparently,  howled  itself  to  sleep. 

Again  La  Certe  broke  the  piscatorial  spell  that 
had  settled  down  on  them,  and,  taking  up  the  thread 
of  discourse  where  he  had  dropped  it,  repeated  his 
statement  that  he  had  been  wondering  for  a  long 
time  why  Cloudbrow,  alias  young  Duncan  M'Kay, 
was  so  sharp  and  fierce  in  denying  that  he  knew 
anything  about  the  murder  of  Henri  Perrin. 

"Hee!  hee  !"  was  Slowfoot's  significant  reply. 

"  Can  Slowfoot  not  guess  ? "  he  asked,  after 
attending  to  a  hopeful  nibble,  which  came  to 
nothing. 

"Slowfoot  need  not  guess;  she  knows"  said  the 
woman  with  an  air  of  great  mystery. 

"  What  does  Slowfoot  know  ? " 

The  woman's  answer  to  this  was  a  look  of  exceed- 
ing slyness.  But  this  did  not  content  her  lord, 
who,  after  repeated  questions,  and  a  threat  to  resort 
to  extreme  measures  in  case  of  continued  refusal, 
drew  from  her  a  distinct  answer. 

"  Slowfoot  knows  that  Cloudbrow  killed  Perrin." 

"  Sh ! "  exclaimed  La  Certe,  with  a  look  of  real 
concern,  "  I  am  not  yet  tired  of  you,  Slowfoot ;  and 
if  old  M'Kay  hears  you  say  that  he  will  shoot 
you." 


41 


292 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


^•m 


I  ! 


^  'nil 


I'l" 


"Slowfoot  is  not  a  fool,"  retorted  the  woman: 
"  the  old  man  will  never  hear  her  say  that.  What 
has  Slowfoot  got  to  do  with  it  ?  She  can  hold  her 
tongue ! " 

"She  can  do  that,  for  certain,"  returned  her 
husband  with  good-natured  sarcasm.  "  In  that,  as 
in  many  things,  she  excels  other  women.  I  would 
never  have  married  her  had  it  not  been  so.  But 
how  do  you  come  to  be  so  sure  ?  " 

"  I  know  the  knife,"  returned  the  woman,  becom- 
ing more  literal  as  she  went  on,  "  and  Marie  Blanc 
knows  it.  Her  husband  once  got  the  loan  of  it 
from  Cloudbrow,  and  she  looked  at  it  with  care, 
because  she  had  never  seen  such  a  knife  before. 
She  knew  all  its  marks.  Why  does  Cloudbrow 
deny  that  it  is  his  ?  Because  it  was  Cloudbrow 
who  killed  Periin.  If  it  had  been  anybody  else 
lie  would  have  known  it,  and  he  would  have  said 
so — for  he  was  there." 

"  How  know  you  that  he  was  there  ? " 

"Marie  Blanc  knows.  She  netted  the  snow- 
shoes  that  Cloudbrow  wore,  and  she  saw  the  foot- 
prints." 

"  But  pairs  of  snowshoes  are  very  like  each  other," 
obj  acted  La  Certe. 

"  Very  like.  Yes  ;  but  did  ever  two  shoes  have 
the  same  mends  in  the  same  places  of  the  netting, 
where  it  had  been  broken,  and  the  same  marks  on 
the  frames  ? " 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


293 


(Toman : 
What 
)ld  her 

ed  her 
hat,  as 
would 

9.     But 

becom- 
j  Blanc 
1  of  it 
h  care, 
before, 
idbrow 
idbrow 
iy  else 
7e  said 


snow- 
le  foot- 
other," 

js  have 
Letting, 
,rks  on 


"  Never.  It  will  go  hard  with  Cloudbrow  if  this 
is  true." 

"  It  will  go  hard  with  him  whether  it  is  true  or 
not,"  returned  the  woman ;  "  for  some  of  the  friends 
of  Perrin  believe  it  to  be  true,  and  swear " 

The  disappearance  of  Slow  foot's  float  at  this 
moment  stopped  her  swearing,  and  brought  the 
conversation  to  an  abrupt  end.  The  landing  of 
another  goldeye  prevented  its  resumption. 

Having  caught  more  than  enough  for  a  good 
supper,  this  easygoing  pair  leaned  their  rods  against 
a  tree,  and  ascended  the  bank  towards  their  tent, 
which  was  an  ordinary  conical  Indian  wigwam, 
composed  partly  of  leather  and  partly  of  birch-bark, 
with  a  curtain  for  a  door  and  a  hole  in  the  top 
for  a  window ;  it  also  served  for  a  chimney. 

On  the  way  they  encountered  one  of  the  poor 
Swiss  immigrants,  who,  having  a  wife  and  family, 
and  having  been  unsuccessful  in  buffalo  hunting, 
and  indeed  in  all  other  hunting,  was  in  a  state 
which  bordered  on  starvation. 

"You  have  been  lucky,"  said  the  Switzer,  eyeing 
La  Certe's  fish  greedily. 

"Sometimes  luck  comes  to  us — not  often," 
answered  the  half-breed.     "  Have  you  caught  any  ? " 

"Yes,  two  small  ones.  Here  they  are.  But 
what  are  these  among  three  children  and  a  wife  ? 
I  know  not  hov^  to  fish,"  said  the  mountaineer  dis- 
consolately. 


.1 


111 


« 


294 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


The  fact  was  not  surprising,  for  the  poor  man  was 
a  watchmaker  by  trade,  and  had  never  handled 
rod  or  gun  till  he  was,  as  it  were,  cast  adrift  in 
Kupert's  Land. 

"  I  will  sell  you  some  of  my  fish,"  said  La  Certe, 
who  on  all  occasions  had  a  keen  eye  for  a  bar- 
gain. 

"  Good  !  I  am  ready  to  buy,"  said  the  poor  fellow, 
"  but  I  have  not  much  to  spend.  Only  last  week 
I  gave  my  silver  watch  for  eight  gallons  of  wheat. 
I  meant  it  for  seed,  but  my  wife  and  children  were 
starving,  so  we  were  forced  to  eat  it.  And  now  I 
have  no  seed  and  only  five  shillings  to  s^/are." 

"  Well,  my  friend,"  said  La.  Certe,  "  fish  is  very 
scarce  just  now,  but  you  may  have  five  goldeyes 
for  your  five  shillings." 

"  0 !  that  is  too  much,"  remonstrated  the 
Switzer. 

"  No,  no,"  interrupted  the  half-breed,  amiably,  "  by 
no  means — but  if  you  really  think  it  too  much  fish 
for  the  money  I  will  give  you  four  goldeyes  \ " 

"  Come,  you  know  I  don't  mean  that,"  returned 
the  other,  with  a  cynical  smile.  "  Make  it  six,  and 
I  will  agree.  And  here  is  a  pinch  of  snuff  in  to 
the  bargain." 

He  pulled  out  a  box  as  he  spoke,  and  opened  it. 

"  Ha ! "  said  La  Certe,  helping  himself.  "  I  love 
snuff,  and  so  does  my  wife.     Do  you  not  ?  " 

Slowfoot  answered  "  Hee !  hee ! "  and  helped  her- 


OF  THE  RED  ''IVER  PLAINS. 


295 


nan  was 
handled 
drift  in 

a  Certe, 
a  bar- 

'  fellow, 
st  week 

wheat. 
3n  were 

now  I 

is  very 
oldeyes 

id     the 

ly,  "  by 
ch  fish 

iturned 
ix,  and 
f  in  to 

3d  it. 
I  love 

sd  her- 


self to  as  much  as  a  good  broad  finger  and  thumb 
could  grasp,  after  which  she  sneezed  with  violence. 

"  Now,  behold !  my  friend — a-wheesht ! "  said  La 
Certe,  sneezing  a  bass  accompaniment  to  Slow- 
foot's  treble.  "  I  will  give  you  a  catfish — a  whole 
catfish  for — a-wheesht ! — for  that  box  and  snuff." 

The  Switzer  shook  his  head. 

"  Nay,"  he  said.  "  The  snuff  you  may  have,  but 
the  box  was  the  gift  of  a  friend,  and  I  am  loath  to 
part   with  it.      Besides,  the  box  is  of  little  real 


value." 


"You  may  have  the  head  of  the  catfish  for  the 
snuff,  and  the  whole  catfish  for  the  box,"  said  La 
Certe,  with  the  firmness  of  a  man  who  has  irrevoc- 
ably made  up  his  mind — for  there  are  none  so  firm 
of  purpose  as  the  weak  and  vacillating  when  they 
know  they  have  got  the  whip-hand  of  any  one! 
"And,  behold  !  I  will  be  liberal,"  he  added.  "  You 
shall  have  another  goldeye  into  the  bargain — six 
goldeyes  for  the  five  shillings  and  a  whole  catfish 
for  the  box  and  snuff — voilk !  " 

The  poor  Switzer  still  hesitated. 

"  It  is  a  great  deal  to  give  for  so  little,"  he  said. 

"  That  may  be  true,"  said  the  other,  "  but  I  would 
not  see  my  family  starve  for  the  satisfaction  of  carry- 
ing a  snuff-box  and  five  shillings  in  my  pocket." 

This  politic  reference  to  the  starving  family 
decided  the  matter ;  the  poor  Switzer  emptied  his 
pockets  with  a  sigh,  received  the  fish,  and  went  on 


m 

I 
t 


296 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


his  way,  leaving  La  Certe  and  Slowfoot  to  return  to 
their  wigwam  highly  pleased  with  their  bargain. 
As  must  have  been  noted  by  the  reader  long  ere 
now,  this  like-minded  couple  did  not  possess  a  con- 
science between  them — at  least,  if  they  did,  it  must 
at  that  time  have  been  a  singularly  shrunken  and 
mummified  one,  which  they  had  managed  to  keep 
hidden  away  in  some  dark  and  exceedingly  unget- 
at-able  chamber  of  the  soul. 

Commercially  speaking,  however,  they  had  some 
ground  for  satisfaction  ;  for  at  that  time  the  ordinary 
price  of  a  catfish,  which  is  a  little  larger  than  a 
haddock,  was  threepence. 

Awakening  the  juvenile  La  Certe  to  the  blissful 
realisation  that  a  good  "  square  "  meal  was  pending, 
Slowfoot  ordered  it  to  fill  and  light  the  pipe  for  its 
father,  while  she  set  about  preparing  the  fish  for 
supper. 


f»h'F  ''i"  M 


>%    ,i 


OF  THE  RED  RIVEK  PLAINS. 


297 


•eturn  to 
bargain, 
long  ere 
)S  a  con- 
it  must 
ken  and 
to  keep 
T  unget- 

id  some 

)rdini4ry 

than  a 

blissful 
•endinw 
3  for  its 
fish  for 


CHArXER  XXVII. 

VISIT  FROM  SIOUX  BROUGHT  TO  A  DISASTROUS  CLOSE. 

Happening  to  hear  of  the  bargain  which  we  have 
just  described,  and  being  under  the  impression  that 
it  might  be  good  for  La  Certe's  spirit  to  receive  a 
mild  reproof,  Mr.  Sutherland  paid  him  a  visit. 

The  Scotch  Elder  was,  for  a  long  time,  the  only 
man  fitted  to  perform  the  duties  of  a  minister  to  his 
countrymen  in  that  out-of-the-world  colony,  and, 
being  a  true  man  of  God,  he  could  not  hear  of  gross 
injustice,  or  heartless  conduct,  without  some  slight 
attempt  to  open  the  sinner's  eyes  to  his  sin. 

It  may  well  be  understood  that,  in  the  nature  of 
things,  and  the  state  of  the  country,  the  solitary 
Elder's  duties  were  by  no  means  light  or  agreeable. 
Indeed  he  would  have  had  no  heart  to  cope  with 
them  and  with  the  difficulties  they  entailed,  had  he 
not  remembered  that  the  battle  was  not  his,  but  the 
Lord's,  and  that  he  was  only  an  instrument  in  the 
all-powerful  hand  of  the  Spirit  of  God.  His  own 
weapons  were  th^  Word,  Prayer,  and  the  name  of 
Jesus. 


1  !1 


t 


I) 


Hi 


:i! 


,1(1 

M 


II' 


■li 


:4r.'\ 


298 


THK  BUFFALO  KUNNEKS  :   A  TALE 


But  it  was  not  given  to  him  to  see  much  fruit  of 
his  visit  to  La  Certe  at  that  time.  The  half-breed, 
besides  asserting  himself  to  be  a  "  Catholic "  (by 
which  he  meant  a  Roman  Catholic),  and,  therefore, 
in  no  way  amenable  to  Sutherland's  jurisdiction, 
received  his  remonstrances  with  philosophical  argu- 
ments tending  to  prove  that  men  were  meant 
to  make  the  best  of  circumstances  as  they  found 
them,  without  any  regard  to  principles — which, 
after  all,  were  not  very  seriously  held  or  practised 
by  any  one,  he  thought — especially  in  Red  River. 

As  for  Slowfoot,  she  listened  with  evident  interest 
and  curiosity  to  the  strange  teaching  and  exhorta- 
tions of  the  Elder,  but  when  appealed  to  for  some 
sort  of  opinion  on  the  various  points  touched,  she 
replied  with  an  imbecile  "  Hee  !  hee ! "  which  was 
not  encouraging. 

However,  the  good  man  had  sown  the  seed  faith- 
fully and  kindly.  The  watering  thereof  and  the 
sprouting  were,  he  knew,  in  the  hands  of  the 
Master. 

Rising  to  take  leave,  the  Elder  put  his  hand  in 
his  pocket  and  pulled  out  a  large  clasp-knife. 

"  Why,  that 's  my  knife  that  I  lost ! "  exclaimed 
La  Certe  in  surprise ;  "  where  did  you  find  it  ? " 

"  I  found  it  on  my  table  at  home,  where  you  left 
it  that  time  you  came  to  ask  for  some  tobacco. 
Now,  observe,  if  I  did  not  seriously  hold  and  practise 
the  principle  of  honesty,  I  would  have  made  the 


n- 


OF  THE  KED  KlVElt  PLAINS. 


299 


h  fruit  of 
alf- breed, 
)lic"  (by 
therefore, 
isdictioii, 
cal  argu- 
e  meant 
ey  found 
—which, 
practised 
River, 
interest 
Bxhorta- 
or  some 
led,  she 
ich  was 

d  faith- 
nd  the 
of  the 

and  in 

laimed 

3u  left 
bacco. 
'actise 
e  the 


best  of  circumstances  as  I  found  them,  and  would 
have  put  the  knife  in  my  pocket  instead  of  return- 
ing it  to  you." 

La  Certe  laughed,  and  Slowfoot  said  "  Hee !  hee ! " 
while  the  juvenile  La  Certe  availed  itself  of  the 
opportunity  to  draw  the  pipe  gently  from  its  father's 
hand  and  have  a  whiff. 

"  I  have  a  message  to  you  from  the  Governor," 
continued  the  Elder,  taking  a  piece  of  paper  out  of 
his  pocket. 

"  For  me ! "  exclaimed  La  Certe,  in  surprise. 

"  Yes.  He  heard  that  you  are  hard  up  just  now, 
and  that  you  are  going  up  the  river  a  considerable 
distance  to  hunt — is  not  that  so  ? " 

"  Yes,  that  is  true.     We  start  off  to-morrow." 

"Well,  then,  he  gave  me  this  order  for  some 
supplies  of  powder  and  shot,  twine  and  hooks,  with 
some  cloth,  beads,  and  such  like  for  Slowfoot." 

"  That  is  very  good  of  the  Governor — very  con- 
siderate," said  La  Certe  with  a  pleased  look. 

"  Very  good,"  said  Sutherland.  "  Now,  La  Certe, 
suppose  it  true  that  men  are  meant  to  make  the  best 
of  circumstances  as  they  find  them,  and  that  I  was 
a  man  without  any  regard  to  principle,  I  might  have 
drawn  these  supplies  from  the  store  for  you,  and 
used  them  myself,  and  you  would  not  have  been 
a  bit  the  wiser." 

Again  the  half-breed  laughed,  and  admitted  the 
truth  of  the  proposition,  while  Slowfoot  expressed 


!  I 


"i 

^       'I 


It'*  li 


«I5 


d 


n 


300 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


her  belief  (whatever  it  was)  in  a  more  than  usually 
emphatic  "  Hee !  hee !  " 

Returning  home  from  his  apparently  useless 
errand,  Sutherland  met  Fred  Jenkins  with  a  gun 
on  his  shoulder.  The  seaman  was  accompanied  by 
Archie  Sinclair. 

"  Well,  Jenkins,"  he  said,  heartily,  "  you  must  be 
like  a  fish  out  o'  water  in  these  regions.  Don't  you 
feel  a  longing,  sometimes,  for  the  roar  of  the  gale 
and  the  smell  o'  the  salt  sea  ?  " 

"  Can't  say  as  I  does,  Mr.  Sutherland.  I  've  bin 
used  to  accommodate  myself  to  circumstances,  dee 
see,  ever  since  I  was  a  small  shaver ;  so,  nothin' 
comes  exactly  amiss  to  me " 

"  0  Fred !  how  can  you  tell  thumpers  like 
that?"  interrupted  the  forward  Archie.  "Isn't 
Elise  Morel  a  miss  to  you  ?  and  Elspie,  and  Jessie 
Davidson  ? " 

"  Clap  a  stopper  on  your  mug,  you  young  scape- 
grace ! "  retorted  the  seaman,  who  had  some  doubt  as 
to  whether  the  boy's  putting  Elise  Morel's  name 
first  was  intentional  or  an  accident.  "As  I  was 
a-going  to  say,  sir,  I  was  always  fond  o'  changes,  an' 
the  rollin'  plains  come  to  me  as  pleasant,  though 
not  quite  so  familiar,  as  the  rollin'  sea." 

"That's  a  satisfactory  state  o'  mind,  anyhow," 
returned  the  Elder.  "  But  where  away  now  ? — to 
cater  for  the  pot,  I  dare  say." 

"  Well,  no,  not  exactly — though  I  've  no  objection 


»fiii,M'tWWirpTia 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


301 


usually 

useless 
1  a  gun 
mied  by 

nust  be 
)n't  you 
he  gale 

Ve  bin 
;es,  dee 
nothin' 

:s  like 
"  Isn't 
Jessie 

scape- 
»ubt  as 
name 
I  was 
es,  an' 
liough 

how/' 
?— to 

iction 


to  do  that  too  in  the  by-goin'.  But  we  've  heard  a 
report  that  a  band  o'  Sioux  are  goin'  to  visit  the 
Settlement,  and  as  there  's  a  lot  o'  their  enemies,  the 
Saulteaux,  knocking  about,  I  've  bin  sent  to  the  fort 
by  old  M'Kay  to  see  if  they  've  heard  about  the 
Sioux  comin',  an'  if  there  's  likely  to  be  a  scrimmage, 
so  as  we  may  clear  for  action,  d'ee  see  ? " 

"  I  see ;  and  I  hope  there  will  be  no  need  to  clear 
for  action.  I  'm  glad  to  see  Archie  with  you  too," 
said  Sutherland,  "  but  surprised ;  for  I  don't  re- 
member when  I  saw  him  without  Little  Bill  on  his 
back  or  at  his  side." 

"  0,  as  to  that,  Little  Bill  has  forsaken  me,"  said 
Archie,  "or  I  have  forsaken  him — I'm  not  sure 
which — since  Dan  Davidson's  accident,  for  he  does 
little  else  but  sit  at  Dan's  bedside,  readin'  to  him  or 
talking  with  him. ' 

"  The  dear  little  fellow  could  not  be  better  em- 
ployed," remarked  the  Elder. 

"The  dear  little  fellow  could  be  much  better 
employed,"  retorted  the  boy,  with  unexpected  de- 
cision. "He  could  be  rambling  about  the  plains 
or  in  the  bush  with  me,  getting  strength  to  his 
muscles  and  fresh  air  to  his  lungs,  an'  health  to 
his  body — to  say  nothing  of  his  soul." 

"Why,  you  are  becoming  jealous,  lad,"  said 
Sutherland,  with  a  laugh. 

"  No,  I  'm  not  becoming  jealous ;  I  'm  jealous 
already,"  returned  the  boy,  with  an  air  that  was 


302 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


I 


•«  \m 


:.m' 


1 


half  jocular,  half  serious.  "  However,  1 11  exercise 
patience  a  little  longer,  but  I  'm  determined  not  to 
let  Little  Bill  be  sacrificed  for  the  sake  of  sick- 
nursing." 

With  this  announcement  of  his  unalterable  re- 
solve to  stand  to  his  guns,  and  a  "  Brayvo,  young- 
ster ! "  from  Jenkins,  they  parted  and  went  on  their 
several  ways. 

It  was  found,  when  Fort-Garry  was  reached,  that 
the  rumour  of  a  visit  from  the  Sioux  Indians  was 
correct,  and  that  some  preparation  was  being  made 
for  their  reception,  as  well  as  precautions  against 
any  mischief  that  might  be  contemplated,  though 
there  was  not  much  to  be  apprehended  on  that 
scor3,  for  the  Sioux  were  believed  to  be  among  the 
bravest  as  well  as  the  most  powerful  of  the  nations 
east  of  the  Eocky  Mountains,  and  less  addicted  to 
treachery  or  cruelty  than  most  other  tribes. 

Two  days  later  the  Sioux  made  their  appearance. 
They  formed  only  a  small  band  of  warriors,  but 
were  a  wild-looking  though  fine  set  of  men ;  erect, 
muscular,  tall  fellows,  with  the  free  bearing  of 
practised  warriors,  and  in  all  the  paint,  charcoal, 
feathers,  and  leather-costume,  bear-claw  collars,  etc., 
peculiar  to  the  western  wilderness. 

Their  object,  they  said,  was  to  smoke  tlie  pipe  of 
peace  with  their  enemies  the  Saulteaux,  and  to  see 
with  their  own  eyes  the  wonderful  things  that  by 
report  the  Palefaces  were  doing  in  Red  River. 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLA.1NS. 


303 


exercise 
i  not  to 
3f  sick- 

ble  re- 
young- 
a  their 

id,  that 
ns  was 
J  made 
Lgainst 
hough 
1  that 
ig  the 
ations 
ted  to 

lance. 
I,  but 
erect, 
ig  of 
rcoal, 
,  etc., 

pe  of 
3  see 
't  by 


"The  Sioux  have  heard,"  said  their  principal 
chief,  at  a  palaver  with  the  Governor,  "that  the 
Palefaces  are  building  wooden  wigwams  in  number 
like  the  stones  on  the  shores  of  Lake  Winnipeg ; 
that  they  are  growing  much  grain ;  that  they  have 
set  up  many  strange  things  which  they  compel  the 
wind  to  work  for  them,  and  so  grind  their  grain ; 
that  they  have  great  heaps  of  powder  and  ball,  and 
big  wigwams  that  are  bursting  with  things  that  the 
Sioux  love  to  exchange  for  the  meat  and  skins  of 
the  buffalo  and  other  beasts  cjreat  and  small.  We 
have  come  to  see  all  this  with  our  own  eyes,  for 
most  of  us  are  young  men  who  have  only  heard  of 
such  things  from  our  fathers.     Waugh  ! " 

Of  course  everything  was  said  to  encourage  this 
laudable  desire  for  knowledge.  The  visitors  were 
shown  over  the  fort.  Food  was  given  to  them,  and 
tobacco ;  then  the  pipe  of  peace  was  smoked  with 
a  band  of  Saulteaux,  which  chanced  to  be  on  a 
friendly  visit  to  the  settlement  at  the  time,  after 
which,  as  was  customary  on  such  occasions,  both 
parties  mixed  together  and  strolled  about  to  see  the 
settlers. 

One  party  of  them  found  their  way  to  Prairie 
Cottage.  At  some  of  the  houses  nearer  the  fort 
they  had  learned  the  method  of  lifting  the  latch  of 
a  door  so  as  to  obtain  entrance.  Finding  no  one 
outside  at  the  cottage,  they  entered  the  central  hall 
witli  the  soft,  quiet  tread  of  the  panther.    As  no 


304 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


^1  1 


|l! 


4 


Ill 


llli 


F-  5'!"'*'^ 


'''III'!!  II 


I  i  * 


„1 


\<\' 


one  chanced  to  be  there,  they  continued  their 
explorations  with  childlike  simplicity,  and  thus  most 
unexpectedly  found  themselves  in  the  bedroom  of 
Dan  Davidson,  where  Little  Bill  had  just  read 
himself  and  his  brother-invalid  into  a  sound  sleep. 
Both  wakened  up  at  once,  and  the  boy  sat  bolt 
upright  in  blazing  astonishment,  but  Dan,  who  had 
heard  of  their  arrival  in  the  Settlement,  received 
them  with  a  few  words  of  welcome. 

Fortunately  for  all  parties,  Ok^matan  presented 
himself  just  then,  having,  while  at  work  in  the 
garden,  seen  the  party  of  Sioux  arrive.  He  did 
his  best  to  act  the  host,  explaining  to  the  visitors 
the  cause  of  Dan's  weakness,  and,  by  Dan's  direc- 
tions, offering  them  tobacco  and  pipes. 

While  they  were  thus  engaged,  old  M'Kay 
entered. 

"  I  saw  you  comin',  lads,"  he  said,  heartily.  "  What 
cheer  ?  what  cheer  ? "  he  added,  shaking  hands  with 
them  all  round. 

The  Sioux  were  obviously  much  pleased  with 
their  reception,  especially  when  Mrs.  Davidson, 
Jessie,  and  Elspie,  who  had  been  out  walking,  re- 
turned and  joined  the  party. 

After  showing  the  Indians  everything  in  the 
house,  old  M'Kay — who  constituted  himself  their 
guide, — took  them  out  to  see  the  live  stock  and  the 
farm.     He  led  them  first  into  the  garden. 

It  chanced  at  this  time  that  there  was  a  "  snake 


I  ! 


OF  THE  RED  RIVEU  PLAINS. 


305 


in  the  grass  "  not  far  off.  This  was  no  other  than 
the  bad  Indian  Kateegoose. 

Why  some  people  are  what  we  call  naturally  bad, 
like  Kateegoose,  while  others  arc  what  we  call 
naturally  good,  like  Ok^matan,  is  a  mystery  the 
investigation  of  which  we  propose  postponing  to  a 
more  convenient  season.  Of  course  no  sane  person 
will  maintain  that  this  mystery  frees  fallen  man 
from  responsibility.  If  it  did,  we  could  no  longer 
hang  for  murder.  It  would  be  the  bounden  duty  of 
every  judge,  in  that  case,  to  acquit  every  murderer 
with  "  Poor  fellow,  it  was  his  fate ;  he  could  not  help 
it ! "  and  send  him  away  with  a  pat  on  the  shoulder, 
and  an  order  for  coffee  and  buns,  perhaps,  in  his 
pocket.  As  none  but  sane  persons,  however,  will 
read  my  book,  it  is  not  necessary  to  enlarge  further 
on  this  head. 

Certain  it  is  that  Kateegoose  was  "bad"  —  ob- 
durately bad — had  been  so  from  his  very  cradle, 
if  he  ever  had  one,  which  is  doubtful,  and  bade  fair 
to  continue  so  to  his  grave.  Sutherland  had  button- 
holed him  more  than  once,  but  apparently  in  vain. 
It  is  only  fair  to  the  savage  to  say  that  he  listened 
patiently  to  the  Elder's  remonstrances,  and  atten- 
tively to  his  exhortations,  and  assumed  an  aspect 
of  mild  contrition  that  might  or  might  not  have 
been  sincere— as  far  as  appearance  went. 

Now,  it  unfortunately  happened  that  among  the 
Sioux  braves  there  was  a  man  who  had  done  Katee- 

u 


illl 


306 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


i  I'l 


llill 


I 

4 


iiiiii 


"9 


i 


illl! 


iii: 


■M 


n 


1  iluit 

•h4     Illl 
111! 

!->  *   Kit 


> 


lll'ii' 


J' 


S,r;:;i!!i 


li! 


i! 


goose  a  deadly  injury  of  some  sort,  which  nothing 
short  of  blood  could  wipe  out.  Kateegoose,  in 
familiar  parlance,  spotted  him  at  once,  and  dogged 
his  steps  through  the  Settlement,  watching  his  op- 
portunity for  revenge.  In  savage  life  this  dogging 
process  would  not  have  been  possible,  but  in  a 
comparatively  crowded  settlement,  and  in  the  midst 
of  all  the  surprising  novelties  that  surrounded  the 
Palefaces,  it  was  all  too  easy ;  for  Kateegoose  took 
care  to  keep  as  much  as  possible  in  the  background, 
and  well  under  cover  of  houses,  cottages,  carts, 
stacks,  and  wigwams ;  besides  which  he  had  painted 
his  face  in  such  a  manner,  and  so  modified  his 
costume,  that  his  own  acquaintances  among  the 
settlers — he  had  no  friends — failed  to  recognise  him. 
They,  in  their  comparative  ignorance  of  savage  life, 
set  him  down  as  one  of  the  visitors,  while  the  visitors, 
if  they  noticed  him  at  all,  esteemed  him  one  of  the 
cross-breeds  of  the  Settlement. 

The  only  man  who  saw  through  the  disguise  of 
Kateegoose  was  Okdmatan,  who  could  not  under- 
stand why  he  had  adopted  it,  and  who  resolved  to 
keep  a  sharp  eye  on  him. 

The  enemy  of  Kateegoose  was  one  of  the  younger 
Sioux  chiefs.  He  led  the  party  which  visited  Prairie 
Cottage. 

The  garden  of  the  Cottage,  at  its  lower  end  to- 
wards the  river,  approached  close  to  the  confines 
of  a  thick  coppice.     It  formed  the  extremity  of  a 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


307 


belt  of  woodland  which  at  that  time  bordered  the 
river.  There  a  small  summer-house  had  been  erected 
by  Dan  and  Peter  Davidson  for  the  benefit  of  their 
mother  and  their  sister  Jessie. 

Kateegoose,  while  dogging  his  foe,  recognised  this 
as  a  spot  very  suitable  for  his  fell  purpose,  as  the 
contiguous  wood  afforded  a  ready  means  of  escape 
after  the  deed  should  be  done. 

While  old  M'Kay  was  conducting  the  Sioux 
slowly  through  the  garden,  Kateegoose  glided  swiftly 
through  the  thicket  to  the  spot  where  the  summer- 
house  stood,  and  took  up  a  position  behind  it,  so 
that  the  party  in  making  the  round  of  the  garden 
would  necessarily  pass  cloise  to  him. 

From  the  window  of  Dan's  room,  Little  Bill  ob- 
served part  of  these  mysterious  movements  and 
suspected  mischief.  Without  uttering  a  word  he 
left  the  room,  opened  the  front  door,  and  gave  a  low 
whistle,  which  had  been  set  up  as  a  private  signal 
betw^een  him  and  Ok^matan.  In  a  few  seconds  the 
Cree  chief  was  by  his  side. 

"  Ok^,  there 's  mischief  intended.  You  '11  have  to 
be  quick,"  he  said,  quickly  explaining  what  he  had 
seen. 

"  Kejoin  the  party  at  once,"  he  added,  "  and  look 
out — sharp." 

The  chief  nodded  and  walked  away.  So  swift, 
yet  so  quiet,  had  been  his  movements  that  none  of 
the  whites  of  the  party  had  observed  his  departure 


308 


i! 
III 


' 


^M 


iii 
lil 


>il! 


*H  4,  wit  II I 


iiiij 


P 
ill! 


■ii 


t  ! 


1  I 


ii!  ■ 

!![ 
J     I 


I 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNEilS  :   A  TALE 


from  them.  The  Sioux,  however,  had  lioticed  it, 
and  their  suspicions  were  aroused,  especially  when 
they  saw  him  rejoin  the  party,  and  observed  that 
he  walked  rather  closer  to  them  than  before.  But 
they  were  proud  warriora  and  refused  by  woi'd,  look, 
or  movement,  to  indicate  their  suspicions.  They 
carried  bows  in  their  hands,  arrows  in  their  quivers, 
tomahawks  and  scalping-knives  in  their  belts,  but 
they  scorned  to  make  any  visible  demonstration  of 
being  on  guard  in  the  midst  of  Paleface  friends, 
though  they  gave  intense  and  undivided  attention 
to  the  movements  of  Ok^matan. 

This  concentration  of  attention  on  the  wrong  man 
was,  of  course,  rather  favourable  to  the  designs  of 
Kateegoose,  so  that,  when  the  party  passed  the 
summer-house,  he  was  enabled  to  spring  upon  his 
enemy,  unobserved  for  the  first  moment,  with  knife 
upraised.  But  the  stab  from  which  the  Sioux  chief 
could  not  have  escaped  was  rendered  harmless  by 
the  prompt  action  of  Okdmatan,  who  threw  up  his 
left  arm,  turned  the  blow  aside,  and  received  a  slight 
wound  in  doing  so. 

There  was  no  time  to  repeat  the  blow.  With  a 
yell  of  mingled  defiance  and  disappointment  the 
would-be  assassin  leaped  the  garden  fence,  bounded 
into  the  thicket,  and  disappeared.  A  flight  of  Sioux 
arrows  Wintered  the  bush  almost  the  moment  after. 
The  young  chief  and  his  friends  also  leaped  the 
fence,  and  followed  in  pursuit. 


ill  I 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


309 


>. 


ticed  it, 
ly  when 
v^ed  that 
tre.  But 
•d,  look, 
They 
quivers, 
elts,  but 
'afcion  of 
friends, 
ttention 

)ng  man 
signs  of 
sed  the 
pon  his 
th  knife 
IX  chief 
iless  by 
up  his 
a  sh'ght 

With  a 
ent  the 
►ounded 
if  Sioux 
it  after. 
)ed  the 


The  Sioux  were  swift  and  agile  undoubtedly,  but 
so  was  Kateegoose,  and  he  had  the  advantage  of 
knowing  the  ground,  while  the  trail — by  which, 
in  ordinary  circumstances,  the  Red-man  can  track 
his  enemy  through  the  forest — was  not  available 
there  in  consequence  of  its  being  so  mingled  up 
with  the  crossing  and  re-crossing  of  the  innumerable 
tracks  of  settlers.  The  result  was  that  Kateegoose 
made  his  escape. 

The  Colonists  were  very  indignant  at  the  per- 
petration of  this  cowardly  act,  for  it  compromised 
their  character  for  hospitality;  and,  if  they  could 
have  laid  hands  on  the  savage  at  the  time,  it  is  not 
impossible  that  Lynch-law  might  have  been  applied 
to  him.  The  Governor  also  was  greatly  annoyed, 
and  in  the  afternoon  of  the  following  day  made  the 
visitors  a  number  of  presents,  besides  providing  for 
them  a  feast ;  but  all  his  good  intentions  were  spoiled 
by  Kateegoose,  who  had  the  audacity  to  come  for- 
ward and  deliberately  shoot  his  foe  while  the  Sioux 
were  at  meat.  The  ball  passed  quite  through  the 
Sioux  chiefs  body,  and  wounded  the  man  who  was 
next  to  him.  After  this  dastardly  act  the  villain 
tied,  and  again  got  safe  away. 

The  enraged  Sioux,  seizing  their  weapons,  would 
have  wreaked  their  vengeance  on  the  Saulteaux,  if 
they  could  have  discovered  any;  but  these  wily 
savages  had  cleared  away  at  the  first  note  of  alarm, 
and  not  one  was  to  be  found.    To  have  attacked  the 


!!i"ii|| 


310 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


Hi 


whites  with  so  small  a  party  would  have  been 
useless  as  well  as  unjust.  They  therefore  left  the 
colony  in  fierce  anger. 

It  chanced  that  La  Certe  had  pitched  his  tent 
the  day  before  on  a  stream  not  far  distant  from  the 
colony.  The  Sioux  had  to  pass  that  way,  and, 
espying  the  wigwam,  turned  aside  to  wreak  their 
vengeance  on  whomsoever  it  might  contain.  For- 
tunately the  owner  of  the  mansion  and  his  wife  had 
gone  out  fishing  in  a  canoe,  and  taken  the  child 
with  them.  All  that  the  Sioux  could  do,  there- 
fore, was  to  appropriate  the  poor  man's  goods  and 
chattels ;  but  as  the  half-breed  had  taken  his  gun, 
ammunition,  and  fishing-tackle  with  him,  there  was 
not  much  left  to  appropriate.  Having  despoiled 
the  mansion,  they  set  fire  to  it  and  went  their  way. 

Returning  in  the  evening,  La  Certe  found  his 
house  a  heap  of  ashes,  and  himself  reduced  to  a 
state  of  destitution.  Tliis  being  his  normal  state, 
however,  he  was  not  profoundly  affected.  Neither 
was  his  wife ;  still  less  was  his  child. 

He  said  no  word,  but  carried  the  contents  of  the 
canoe  on  shore.  His  w^ife,  equally  reticent,  helped 
him.  His  child,  ligliting  its  father's  pipe,  sat  down 
to  smoke  and  look  on. 

They  turned  the  canoe  bottom  up  to  serve  as  a 
partial  shelter ;  they  kindled  a  huge  fire  before  it ; 
they  set  up  three  large  fat  ducks  to  roast  in  front 
of  it,  and  were  soon  busy  with  a  simple  but  satisfy- 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


311 


ave   been 
J  left  the 

his  tent 
from  the 
^ay,  and, 
!ak  their 
m.     For- 
wife  had 
he  child 
0,  there- 
)ods  and 
his  gun, 
lere  was 
lespoiled 
iir  way. 
und  his 
ed  to  a 
il  state. 
Neither 


ing  supper.  After  washing  this  down  with  an  un- 
stimulating  draught  of  pure  water,  they  put  the 
baby  to  bed  under  the  bow  of  the  canoe,  filled 
their  pipes,  and  sat  down  before  the  ruddy  blaze  to 
mingle  their  hopes,  joys,  prospects,  and  sorrows  in 
a  halo  of  smoke — the  very  personification  of  primi- 
tive contentment  and  felicity. 


I  of  the 
helped 
t  down 


e  as  a 
ore  it  ; 
front 
itisfy- 


t 


ii*'!;!;! 


li! 


,0m 


« iiii 


1 1 


■^  -'iM;i!i 


IliPI 


iii!t 


III 


! 


m 


312 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

VRRT  PERPLEXING  INTEBVIRWS  WITH  LITTLK  BILL. 

Things  in  the  colony  had  at  this  time  come  to 
what  may  be  styled  a  complicated  pass,  for  distress 
and  starvation  were  rampant  on  the  one  hand,  while 
on  the  other  hand  the  weather  was  superb,  giving 
prospect  at  last  of  a  successful  harvest. 

The  spring  buffalo-hunt  had  been  but  partially 
successful,  so  that  a  number  of  the  buffalo  runners 
had  to  make  arrangements  to  support  themselves 
by  fishing  during  the  autumn  in  lakes  Winnipeg 
and  Manitoba. 

In  these  great  fresh-water  seas  there  is  an  un- 
limited quantity  of  rich  and  finely  flavoured  white- 
fish,  or  Titanieg,  besides  other  fish.  But  Titameg  are 
only  to  be  caught  in  large  quantities  during  autumn, 
and  of  course  much  of  the  success  of  fishing  de- 
pends on  weather — one  gale  sometimes  visiting  the 
fishermen  with  ruin — ruin  all  the  more  complete 
that  the  nets  which  may  be  carried  away  have  in 
many  cases  to  be  paid  for  out  of  the  produce  of 
the  season's  fishing. 


'    li h^ 


H.M! 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


313 


In  addition  to  the  buffalo  hunters,  who  were 
obliged  to  support  themselves  by  fishing,  there  was 
a  large  number  of  idle  half-breeds,  of  a  much  lower 
type  than  these  plain  hunters,  who  had  to  betake 
themselves  to  the  same  pursuit.  These  were  the 
"  ne'er-do-weels  "  of  the  colony ;  men  who,  like  La 
Certe,  with  more  or  less — usually  less — of  his  good 
nature,  seemed  to  hold  that  all  the  industrious 
people  in  the  world  were  created  to  help  or  to 
support  them  and  their  families.  Of  course  when 
the  industrious  people  were  unsuccessful,  these 
idlers  were  obliged  to  work  for  their  living,  which, 
being  unaccustomed  to  do  anything  energetic,  they 
found  it  hard  and  difficult  to  do,  and  generally 
regarded  themselves  as  the  harshly  used  victims  of 
a  tyrannous  fate. 

There  was  one  thing,  however,  at  which  these 
idlers  were  very  expert  and  diligent — they  beg^^a 
well,  and  with  persistency.  No  wonder ;  for  their 
lives  often  depended  on  their  persistent  and  success- 
ful begging.  The  Company  and  the  private  store- 
keepers were  always  more  or  less  willing  to  risk 
their  goods  by  advancing  them  on  credit.  Before 
the  summer  was  over,  most  of  these  people  had  got 
their  supplies  and  were  off  to  the  fishing  grounds, 
regardless  of  the  future,  with  large  quantities  of  tea 
and  tobacco,  and  happy  as  kings  are  said  to  be — but 
never  are,  if  history  be  true ! 

Among  these,  of  course,  was   La   Certe.      That 


314 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


»■♦• 


Ml'  I 


S  -       il 


Hi 


11! 


Ill 

■'  1 

1 

! 

: 

i 
1 

i. 

1 

1 
■  1 

typical  idler  had  made  the  most  of  his  misfortunes. 
Everybody  had  heard  what  the  Sioux  had  done  to 
him,  and  everybody  had  pitied  him.  Pity  opens 
the  heart,  and  that  opens  the  hand ;  and,  when  the 
poor  man  entered  a  store  with  the  polite  manner  of 
a  French  Canadian  and  the  humble  aspect  of  a  ruined 
man,  he  scarcely  required  to  beg.  One  man  lent 
him  a  tent.  Another  lent  him  a  canoe.  From  the 
Company's  store  at  Fort  Garry  he  received  a  fair 
outfit  of  nearly  all  that  he  could  require.  Further 
down  the  Settlement  there  was  a  private  storekeeper 
with  a  jovial  countenance. 

*'  0  it  was  a  sad,  sad  sight ! "  he  said  to  this  man 
on  entering  the  store — "  so  very  sad  to  see  my  tent 
in  ashes,  and  nothing  left — nothing — absolutely ! " 

The  jovial  man  was  moved.  He  gave  La  Certe 
what  he  asked  for — even  pressed  things  on  him,  and 
also  bestowed  on  him  a  considerable  "  gratuity." 

Still  further  down  the  Settlement  the  unfortu- 
nate man  found  the  store,  or  shop,  of  another  friend. 
This  man  was  saturnine  of  countenance,  but  mode- 
rately liberal  of  heart.  La  Certe  approached  him 
with  an  air  so  pitiful  that  the  saturnine  man  melted 
like  snow  in  the  sunshine  or  wax  under  heat. 

"  I  have  heard  of  your  loss,"  he  said,  "  and  I  will 
give  you  credit  this  time.  La  Certe,  though  you  are 
so  bad  at  paying  your  debts.  But  I  won't  give  you 
much." 

"  I  do  not  want  much,"  returned  the  afflicted  man 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


315 


isfortunes. 
d  done  to 
'ity  opens 
when  the 
iianner  of 
>f  a  ruined 
man  lent 
From  the 
ed  a  fair 
Further 
orekeeper 

this  man 

!  my  tent 
itely ! " 

La  Certe 
him,  and 
ity." 
unfurtu- 
r  friend, 
t  mode- 
led him 
I  melted 

I  I  will 
you  are 
ve  you 

3d  man 


in  tones  of  deep  humility — "only  a  little — a  very 
little." 

By  asking  much  more  than  he  required,  La  Certe 
obtained  as  much  as  he  wanted  from  the  saturnine 
man,  and  thus  he  finally  started  for  Lake  Winnipeg 
with  a  canoe  laden,  almost  to  sinking,  with  the 
good  things  of  this  life. 

The  fineness  of  that  summer  brought  forth  the 
fruits  of  the  earth  in  great  luxuriance,  and  it  really 
seemed  as  if  at  last  the  Scotch  settlers  were  going 
to  reap  some  reward  for  all  their  prolonged  perse- 
verance and  industry.  The  long  rest,  the  good 
feeding,  the  sunshine  of  nature  and  the  starlight  of 
Elspie's  eyes  had  a  powerful  effect  on  Dan  David- 
son's health,  so  that,  by  the  time  autumn  arrived 
and  the  prospects  of  a  splendid  harvest  became 
more  certain  every  day,  he  had  recovered  much  of 
his  usual  strength  of  body  and  vigour  of  mind. 

Little  Bill  also  felt  the  genial  influences  around 
him,  and,  to  the  intense  joy  of  Archie,  became 
visibly  fatter  and  stronger,  while  his  large  blue 
eyes  lost  some  of  that  wistfully  solemn  appearance 
with  which  they  had  been  wont  to  gaze  inquiringly 
into  people's  faces. 

One  afternoon  Billie,  having  walked  to  the  sum- 
mer house  in  the  Prairie  Cottage  garden,  along  with 
Archie,  was  left  alone  there  at  his  own  request,  for, 
unlike  other  boys,  he  was  fond  of  occasional  solitary 
meditation. 


illlilli 


'iHil! 


I**       liiini 


I 


*4 


'■•«•" 


*  ■  'I 

>   .1 


ii' 


lit  I  '  i 
ii,  i 


,   ,1 


Ji!'!li!:ii; 

ill  1 15 


111 


316 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


"  Now  mind,  Little  Bill — you  whistle  if  you  want 
me,"  said  Archie,  when  about  to  leave  him.  "  I  '11 
hear  you,  for  I'm  only  going  to  the  carpenter's 
shed." 

"  I  will,  Archie,  if  I  want  you ;  but  I  don't  think 
I  shall,  for  I  can  walk  by  myself  now,  quite  easily, 
as  far  as  the  house." 

But  Little  Bill  was  not  destined  to  be  left  to 
solitary  meditations  that  day,  for  his  brother  had 
not  left  him  more  than  a  few  minutes  when  a  foot- 
step was  heard  on  the  path  outside,  and  next  moment 
Fred  Jenkins  presented  himself  at  the  opening  of 
the  summer-house.  The  face  of  the  mariner  be- 
trayed him,  for  he  was  too  honest  by  nature  to 
dissemble  effectively. 

"  Well,  Fred,  how  are  you  ?  You  seem  a  little 
disappointed,  I  think." 

"  Not  exactly  disappointed.  Little  Bill,  but  sort  o' 
ways  scumbusticated,  so  to  speak — perplexed,  if  I 
may  say  so.     Kind  o'  ways  puzzled,  d'ee  sec  ?" 

There  was  something  very  amusing  in  the  manner 
of  the  strapping  seaman  as  he  sat  down  beside  the 
puny  little  boy,  with  a  bashful  expression  on  his 
handsome  face,  as  if  he  were  about  to  make  a 
humiliating  confession. 

"  What  troubles  you,  Jenkins  ? "  asked  Billie,  with 
the  air  of  a  man  who  is  ready  to  give  any  amount 
of  advice,  or,  if  need  be,  consolation.     . 

The  seaman  twisted  his  eyebrows  into  a  complex 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


317 


you  want 
Hn.  "  I  '11 
Jarpenter's 

on't  think 
ite  easily, 

)e  left  to 
)ther  had 
3n  a  foot- 
:  moment 
)ening  of 
'iner  be- 
ature  to 

a  little 

it  sort  o' 
:ed,  if  I 
?" 

manner 

iide  the 

on  his 

nake  a 

ie,  with 
imount 

•mplex 


form,  and  seemed  uncertain  how  to  proceed. 
Suddenly  he  made  up  his  mind. 

"  Was  you  ever  in  love,  Little  Bill  ? "  he  asked 
abruptly,  and  with  a  smile  that  seemed  to  indicate 
a  feeling  that  the  question  was  absurd. 

"  0  yes,"  answered  the  boy  quite  coolly.  "  I  've 
been  in  love  with  brother  Archie  ever  since  I  can 
remember." 

Jenkins  looked  at  his  little  friend  with  a  still 
more  complicated  knot  of  puzzlement  in  his  eye- 
brows, for  he  felt  that  Billie  was  scarcely  fitted  by 
years  or  experience  to  be  a  useful  confidant.  After 
resting  his  hands  on  his  knees,  and  his  eyes  on  the 
ground,  for  some  time,  he  again  made  up  his  mind 
and  turned  to  Billie,  who  sat  with  his  large  eyes 
fixed  earnestly  on  the  countenance  of  his  tall  friend, 
wondering  what  perplexed  him  so  much,  and  wait- 
ing for  further  communications. 

"  Little  Bill,"  said  Jenkins,  laying  a  large  hand  on 
his  small  knee, ''  in  course  you  can't  be  expected  to 
understand  what  I  wants  to  talk  about,  but  there 's 
nobody  else  I  'd  like  to  speak  to,  and  you  're  such  a 
knowin'  little  shaver  that  somehow  I  felt  a  kind  of — 
of  notion  that  I  'd  like  to  ask  your  advice — d'ee  see?" 

"  I  see — all  right,"  returned  Billie  ;  "  though  I 
wonder  at  such  a  man  as  you  wanting  advice  from 
the  like  of  me.  But  I  '11  do  what  I  can  for  you, 
Jenkins,  and  perhaps  I  know  more  about  the  thing 
that  troubles  you  than  you  think." 


»i.l 


1* 


*H 


•  n 


318 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


"I'm  afraid  not,"  returned  the  seaman,  with  a 
humorous  twinkle  in  his  eye.  "You  see,  Billie, 
you  never  wanted  to  get  spliced,  did  you  ? " 

"  Spliced  !    What 's  that  ? " 

"  Well,  I  should  have  said  married." 

"  0  no !  I  don't  think  the  thought  of  that  ever 
did  occur  to  me.  I  'm  sorry,  Jenkins,  but  I  really 
cannot  give  you  advice  on  that  subject." 

"H'm!  I'm  not  so  sure  o'  that.  Little  Bill. 
You're  such  a  practical  little  chap  that  I  do  be- 
lieve if  you  was  put  to  it  you  'd  be  able  to-.-see, 
now.  If  you  happened  to  want  to  marry  a  nice 
little  gal,  what  would  you  do  ? " 

"  I  would  ask  her,"  said  Little  Bill,  promptly. 

"  Jus'  so ;  but  that  is  what  I  have  not  got  courage 
to  do." 

Jenkins  laughed  at  the  expression  of  blazing  sur- 
prise with  which  the  boy  received  this  statement. 

"  Have  not  got  courage ! "  he  repeated ;  and  then, 
after  a  pause — "  Have  all  the  stories  you  have  told 
me,  then,  been  nothing  but  lies  ? " 

"  Wh'c.t  stories,  Billie  ? " 

"  Why,  such  as  that  one  about  the  pirates  in  the 
Java  seas,  when  ten  of  them  attacked  you  and 
you  were  obliged  to  kill  four,  and  all  the  rest  ran 
away  ? " 

"  No,  Billie — that  was  no  lie :  it  was  quite  true. 
But,  then,  these  blackguards  were  cowards  at  bot- 
tom, and  they  saw  that  I  'd  got  a  brace  o'  double- 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


319 


barrelled  pistols  in  my  belt,  and  was  pretty  well  up 
in  the  cutlass  exercise." 

"  And  that  time  when  you  led  a  storming  party 
against  the  fort  in  South  America,  and  was  the  only 
one  left  o'  the  party,  and  fought  your  way  all  alone 
in  through  the  breach  till  the  troops  came  up  and 
carried  you  on  with  a  rush,  and — and — was  all  about 
that  untrue  ? " 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it,  Billie,  though  I  wouldn't  have 
you  think  I  was  boastin'  about  it.  I  only  gave  you 
the  bare  facts,  which,  like  bare  poles,  is  as  much  as 
a  ship  can  stand  sometimes." 

"  An'  that  time  you  jumped  overboard  in  Port- 
Royal  among  the  sharks  to  save  the  little  girl  ? " 

"  That 's  a  fact,  if  ever  there  was  one,"  said  the 
seaman  quickly,  "for  the  dear  child  is  alive  this 
good  day  to  swear  to  it  if  need  be." 

"Yet  you  tell  me,"  continued  Little  Bill,  "that 
you  have  not  the  courage  to  ask  a  nice  little  girl 
to  marry  you  ? " 

"  That 's  exactly  how  the  matter  stands,  Billie." 

It  was  now  Billie's  turn  to  look  perplexed. 

"  Who  is  this  nice  little  girl  ? "  he  asked  abruptly, 
as  if  the  answer  to  that  question  might  help  to 
explain  the  enigma. 

"  Well — it 's  Elise  Morel ;  an',  mind,  not  a  soul 
knows  about  that  but  you  an'  me.  Little  Bill." 

"  But — but  Elise  is  not  a  little  girl.  She 's  a  big 
woman ! " 


i 


120 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


!    I 


'St        li 


i  I 
I  ; 


1  i 


Jenkins  laughed  as  he  explained  that  seamen 
sometimes  had  a  habit — mistaken,  it  might  be — of 
calling  even  big  women  "nice  little  gals"  when 
they  chanced  to  be  fond  of  them. 

"  And  are  you  really  afraid  to  ask  Elise  to  marry 
you  ?  "  asked  the  boy,  earnestly. 

"I  suspect  that's  what's  the  matter  wi*  me," 
replied  the  sailor,  with  a  modest  look. 

"  I  always  thought  that  nothing  could  frighten 
you,"  said  Billie,  in  a  somewhat  disappointed  tone, 
for  it  seemed  to  him  as  if  one  of  his  idols  were 
shaking  on  its  pedestal.  "  I  can't  understand  it,  for 
/  would  not  be  afraid  to  ask  her — if  I  wanted  her." 

At  this  Jenkins  again  laughed,  and  said  that  he 
believed  him,  and  that  Billie  would  understand 
these  things  better  when  he  was  older. 

"  In  the  meantime.  Little  Bill,"  he  continued,  "  I 
haven't  got  the  heart  of  a  Mother  Carey's  chicken. 
I  could  stand  afore  a  broadside  without  winkin',  I 
believe;  I  think  I  could  blow  up  a  magazine,  or 
fight  the  French,  as  easy  as  I  could  eat  my  break- 
fast a'most,  but  to  ask  a  pure,  beautiful  angel  like 
Elise  to  marry  me,  a  common  seaman — why,  I  hasn't 
got  it  in  me.  Yet  I  'm  so  fond  o'  that  little  gal 
that  I  'd  strike  my  colours  to  her  without  firin'  a 
single  shot " 

"  Does  Elise  want  to  marry  yoit  ? "  asked  Billie. 

"  Oh,  that 's  the  very  pint ! "  said  the  seaman 
with  decision.    "  If  I  could  only  make  sure  o'  thas 


OF  THE  RED  KIVER  PLAINS. 


321 


me, 


» 


pint,  I  'd  maybe  manage  to  come  up  to  the  scratch. 
Now,  that 's  what  I  wants  you  to  find  out  for  me, 
Little  Bill,  an'  I  know  you  're  a  good  little  shaver, 
as  '11  do  a  friend  a  good  turn  when  you  can.  But 
you  must  on  no  account  mention " 

He  was  going  to  have  said,  "  You  must  on  no 
account  mention  that  I  was  blabbing  to  you  about 
this,  or  that  I  wanted  to  find  out  such  a  thing," 
when  the  sudden  appearance  of  Elise's  lap-dog  an- 
nounced the  fact  that  its  mistress  was  approaching. 

With  a  flushed  face  the  bold  seaman  sprang  up 
and  darted  out,  as  if  to  attack  one  of  those  pirates 
of  the  Java  seas  whc  had  made  so  powerful  an 
impression  on  Little  Bill's  mind.  But  his  object 
was  escape — not  attack.  Lightly  vaulting  the 
garden  fence,  he  disappeared  into  the  same  thicket 
which,  on  another  occasion,  had  afforded  opportune 
refuge  to  Kateegoose.  A  few  moments  later  Elise 
turned  into  the  walk,  and  stood  before  the  summer- 
house. 

"  You  here.  Little  Bill ! "  she  exclaimed  on  enter- 
ing. "  I  am  very  glad  to  find  you,  for  I  have  been 
alone  all  the  morning.  Everybody  is  away — in  the 
fields,  I  suppose — and  I  don't  like  being  alone." 

"  Was  you  ever  in  love,  Elise  ? "  asked  the  boy 
with  a  solemn  countenance. 

The  girl  laughed  heartily,  and  blushed  a  little. 

"  What  a  strange  question,  Billie,"  she  said  ;  "  why 
do  you  ask  1 " 


I 


'  Mm :, 

tin 


i; 


I  1 1 


322  THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 

"  Well,  it 's  not  easy  to  explain  all  at  once ;  but — 
but  I  want  to  know  if  you  want  to  be  married  ? " 

Elise  laughed  again,  and,  then,  becoming  sud- 
denly grave,  asked  seriously  why  Billie  put  such 
foolish  questions. 

"  Because,"  said  Little  Bill,  slowly,  and  with  an 
earnest  look,  "  Jenkins  is  ve7y  anxious  to  know  if 
you  are  fond  of  him,  and  he  actually  says  that  he 's 
afraid  to  ask  you  to  marry  him  !  Isn't  that  funny  ? 
I  said  that  even  /  would  not  be  afraid  to  ask  you, 
if  I  wanted  you — How  red  you  are,  Elise !  Have 
you  been  running  ? " 

"  0  no,"  replied  the  girl,  sheltering  herself  under 
another  laugh  ;  "  and  what  did  he  say  to  that  ? " 

"He  said  a  great  many  things.  I  will  try  to 
remember  them.  Let  me  see— he  said  :  '  I  haven't 
got  the  heart  of  a  Mother  Carey's  chicken' — (he 
didn't  tell  me  who  Mother  Carey  is,  but  tliat  's  no 
matter,  for  it  was  only  one  of  her  chickens  he  was 
speaking  of) ; — 'I  could  stand  afore  a  broadside  with- 
out winkin" — (I  give  you  his  very  words,  Elise, 
for  I  don't  quite  understand  them  myself) ; — '  I  could 
blow  up  a  magazine,'  he  went  on,  'or  fight  the  French, 
as  easy  as  I  could  eat  my  breakfast,  a'most,  but  to 
ask  a  pure  an'  beautiful  angel  like  Elise ' — yes,  in- 
deed, you  needn't  shake  your  head ;  he  said  these 
very  words  exactly — '  a  pure  an'  beautiful  angel  like 
Elise  to  marry  me,  a  common  seaman,  why,  I  hasn't 
got  it  in  me.     Yet  I'm  §o  fond  o'  that  little  gal 


;l      1 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


323 


;  but — 
ed?" 
ig  sud- 
at  such 

with  an 
know  if 
lat  he 's 
funny  ? 
xsk  you, 
!     Have 

i  under 
at?" 

try  to 
haven't 
n  '—(he 
lat  's  no 
he  was 
de  with- 
3,  Elise, 
I  could 
French, 

but  to 
-yes,  in- 
d  these 
isjel  like 
I  hasn't 
ttle  gal 


that  I  'd  strike  my  colours  to  her  without  firin'  a 
single  shot.'  Now,  do  you  understand  all  that, 
Elise  ?  for  I  don't  understand  the  half  of  it." 

"  O  yes,  I  understand  a  good  deal  of  it,  though 
some  of  it  is  indeed  puzzling,  as  you  say.  But 
how  did  you  3ome  to  recollect  it  all  so  well.  Little 
Bill  ? " 

"  Because  he  said  he  wanted  me  to  help  him,  and 
to  find  out  if  you  wanted  to  marry  him,  so  I  paid 
particular  attention  to  what  he  said,  and " 

"Did  he  tell  you  to  tell  me  all  this?"  asked 
Elise  abruptly,  and  with  sudden  gravity. 

"  0  dear,  no ;  but  as  he  wanted  me  to  find  it  out 
for  him,  and  said  that  not  a  soul  knew  about  the 
matter  but  me,  I  thought  the  simplest  way  would 
be  to  tell  you  all  he  said,  and  then  ask  you  straight. 
He  was  going  to  tell  me  something  more  very  par- 
ticularly, for  he  was  just  saying,  in  a  very  solemn 

tone, '  You  must  on  no  account  mention '  when 

your  little  dog  bounced  in  and  Jenkins  bounced  out, 
leaving  the  rest  of  it  unsaid." 

"  Then  he  has  just  left  you  ? "  said  Elise. 

"  Just  a  moment  or  two  before  you  came  up.  i 
think  he  must  have  seen  some  sort  of  beast  in  the 
wood,  and  gone  in  chase  of  it,  he  bolted  in  such 
a  hurry,  so  I  don't  know  yet  what  I  was  not  to 
mention." 

"  Now,  Little  Bill,"  said  Elise  with  great  serious- 
ness of  tone  and  manner,  "  you  must  not  tell  Mr, 


324 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  ;   A  TAI.E 


u 
I 


'■mm. 

5 

tat 


Jenkins  one  word  of  the  conversation  that  you  and 
I  have  had  just  now." 

"  What !  not  a  single  word  ? " 

"  Not  one.    You  understand  ? " 

"  Yes,  but,  if  he  asks  me,  I  must  answer  some- 
thing, you  know,  and  I  must  not  tell  lies." 

*' Quite  true,  Billie.  You  must  not  tell  lies  on 
any  account  whatever.  Now,  listen.  If  he  asks  you 
about  our  conversation  this  morning,  you  must  say 
that  I  told  you  you  were  never  to  open  your  lips 
about  the  subject  again  either  to  me  or  to  him  or  to 
anybody.  Mr.  Jenkins  is  an  honourable  man,  and 
will  not  ask  you  a  single  question  after  that." 

"  Then  I  'm  not  to  tell  him  whether  you  want  to 
marry  him  ? " 

"  How  can  you  tell  him  what  you  don't  know  ? " 

"  Well,  but,  I  mean  that  you  're  not  going  to  tell 
me,  so  that  I  might  tell  him  ? " 

"  Certainly  not." 

"  Not  a  word  to  him  and  not  a  word  to  vou — nor 
to  anybody !    Not  even  to  Archie  ! " 

"  Yes.     That  is  exactly  what  you  must  promise 


me. 

"  This  is  a  very  unpleasant  state  of  things,"  said 
Little  Bill,  with  a  sad  and  puzzled  countenance, 
"  but  of  course  I  promise,  for  it  is  your  affair,  you 
know." 

It  was  a  notable  fact,  which  Little  Bill  did  not 
[ail  to  note — but  did  not  dare  to  mention — that 


OF  THE  RED  lilVEU  PLAINS. 


325 


after  that  date  there  was  a  distinct  change  of  de- 
meanour in  EUse  Morel  towards  the  handsome 
sailor — whether  in  his  favour  or  otherwise  it  was 
impossible  to  tell. 

Meanwhile,  events  were  pending  which  were  des- 
tined to  exercise  a  very  powerful  influence  over 
the  fortunes  of  the  Red  River  Colony,  and,  indeed, 
over  the  condition  of  the  whole  of  Rupert's  Land. 


3u — nor 


I 


: 


St 


,11 . 
:l 

^'»i    .ill 


ill 


326 


TIIK  BUFFALO  KUNNKItS  :   A  TALK 


CHAPTEE    XXIX. 


THL  FISHERY  DISASTERS. 


One  line  day,  when  summer  had  merged  into 
autumn,  and  things  in  Eed  Eiver  appeared  to  be 
advancing  favourably,  and  Dan  Davidson  bad  re- 
covered his  strength,  and  Little  Bill  was  fairly  well, 
it  occurred  to  Okematan  that  he  would  like  to  go  to 
Lake  Winnipeg  and  see  how  the  settlers  who  had 
gone  to  the  fishery  there  were  getting  on. 

You  see,  the  Cree  chief  was  an  observant  savage, 
and,  before  returning  to  his  tribe,  had  made  up  his 
mind  to  see  all  the  phases  in  the  life  of  the  new 
Palefaces  who  had  thus  come  to  take  possession  of 
the  land. 

He  was  a  remarkably  independent  fellow,  and  as 
he  served  the  Davidsons  for  nothing  except  his  food 
— which  he  did  not  count,  as  he  could  easily  have 
supplied  himself  with  victuals  by  means  of  his  line, 
bow,  and  gun — he  did  not  deem  it  necessary  to  ask 
leave  of  absence.  He  merely  went  to  the  house  one 
morning,  and  announced  his  intention  of  going  to 
Lake  Winnipeg  to  fish 


in 


OF  TlIK  KKI)  lilVEU  I'LAINS. 


327 


eJ  iiif,o 
i  to  be 
had  re- 
ly well, 
po  go  to 
ho  had 

savage, 

up  his 

le  new 

isiou  of 

and  as 
is  food 
y  have 
is  line, 
to  ask 
se  one 
ing  to 


"I  will  go  with  you,"  said  Dan,  to  whom  the 
announcement  was  made. 

"An'  so  will  I,"  said  Fred  Jenkins,  who  chanced 
to  be  conversing  with  Dan  at  the  time — "  that  is,  if 
they  can  spare  me  just  now." 

"The  canoe  of  Ok(^matan,"  said  the  chief,  "holds 
no  more  than  three.  He  wishes  to  take  with  him 
Arch-ee  and  Leetil  Bill." 

"Very  well,"  returned  Dan,  "there's  no  objection 
to  that,  for  there  is  not  much  doing  on  the  farm  at 
this  moment,  and  Archie  has  worked  hard  all  the 
summer,  so  he  deserves  a  holiday.  We  will  just 
make  up  the  same  party  that  started  last  time,  only 
that  Fergus  and  I  Vv'ill  take  a  somewhat  bigger  canoe 
so  as  to  accommodate  you,  Jenkins." 

"  Thankee.  Though  I  am  big — unfort'nitly — I 
can  stow  myself  away  in  smiU  compass,  an'  I've 
larned  hn",  when  there  ain't  overmuch  grub,  to  git 
along  fairly  well  on  short  allowance.  When  d'ee 
trip  your  anchor  ? — 1  mean,  when  do  ye  start  ? " 

"  When  to-morrow's  sun  touches  the  tree-tops  in 
the  east,"  said  the  Indian  chief. 

"  All  right,  Okematan,  I  'm  your  man — after  layin' 
in  a  breakfast-cargo." 

According  to  this  arrangement  the  two  canoes 
pushed  off  at  daybreak  the  following  morning,  from 
the  wharf  at  the  foot  of  the  garden  of  Prairie 
Cottage,  and  began  the  descent  of  the  Eed  Kiver, 
which,  after  flowing  between   twenty  and  thirty 


A- 


!& 


0 

1*1 


*% 

'■•* 


11 

•u. 

Ifsi 


328 


TUK  BUFFALO  liUNNKUS  :   A  TALE 


11 


nil 


l!l 


'I 
I 


miles  northward,  enters  the  miglity  bosom  of  Lake 
Winnipeg.  Ok^matan  and  Archie  occupied  their 
old  places  in  the  stern  and  bow  of  the  chief's  canoe, 
with  Little  Bill  in  the  middle — this  time  using  a 
paddle,  for  his  strength  had  greatly  increased.  The 
other  canoe  was  steered  by  Dan ;  Fergus  acted  bow- 
man, and  Jenkins  sat  between  them,  also  wielding 
a  paddle. 

That  night  they  encamped  on  the  banks  of  the 
river,  for  their  progress  had  been  slow,  owing  to 
sundry  visits  which  had  to  be  paid  to  settlers  on 
the  way  down. 

"  Well,  now,"  observed  the  sailor,  as  he  stood  by 
the  camp-fire  smoking  his  pipe  contemplatively,  "  I 
find  that  as  circumstances  change  about  in  this 
world  men's  minds  are  apt  to  go  'bout-ship  along 
wi'  them." 

"  That  sounds  a  terribly  profound  speech,  Fred," 
said  Archie,  who  was  busy  at  his  very  usual  occu- 
pation of  whittling  an  arrow  for  his  brother.  "  Did 
your  father  teach  it  you,  or  did  you  crib  it  from  a 
copy-book  ? " 

"  No,  I  raither  think,"  retorted  the  seaman  quietly, 
"  that  I  got  it  from  your  grandmother  by  the 
father's  side." 

"  What  may  be  the  circumstance  that  has  caused 
your  mind  to  go  about-ship  just  now  ? "  asked  Dan, 
stirring  the  fire  under  the  robbiboo-kettle. 

"  Well,  it 's  in  regard  to  them  there  canoe-paddles. 


OF  TIIK  UKl)  UIVEU  I'LAINS. 


320 


of  Lak(3 
od  their 
f's  canoe, 
!  using  a 
2d.  The 
ted  bow- 
wielding 


s  of  the 
wing  to 
tiers  on 


itood  by 

vely,  "  I 

in  this 

p  along 

,  Fred," 

l1  occu- 

"Did 

from  a 

luietly, 
)y    the 

caused 
i  Dan, 

ddles. 


Although  they  do  seem  small,  compared  with 
oars,  I  find  they  *re  quite  big  enough  to  do  the 
work,  and  although  I  've  bin  trained  from  a  young- 
ster to  handle  the  oar  an'  go  like  a  crab  with 
my  back  the  way  I'm  pullin',  it  do  seem  more 
sensible-like  to  sit  wi'  one's  face  to  the  front  and 
drive  ahead; — anyhow,  it's  more  comfortable  and 
satisfactory." 

"  Look  out,  Jenkins ! "  exclaimed  Little  Bill, 
"  else  your  duck  won't  be  satisfactory — it 's  burnin* 
now." 

"  0,  never  mind,"  remarked  Fergus,  lighting  his 
pipe.  "  It  iss  bavin'  it  well  done  he  would  be 
fond  of." 

"  Ay,  but  not  overdone,"  cried  the  seaman,  snatch- 
ing the  duck  in  question  from  before  the  blaze  and 
turning  its  other  side — for  they  used  no  spits  in  the 
Nor'-West  in  those  days,  but  cooked  one  side  at 
a  time — nay,  even  carved  off  and  ate  part  of  the 
cooked  side  while  the  other  side  was  roasting. 

Next  day  they  came  out  on  the  ocean-like 
expanse  of  the  great  lake,  and  steered  along  its 
western  shores  until  they  reached  the  fishery,  where 
numbers  of  rudely-constructed  wigwams  and  a  few 
tents  sheltered  the  fishing  community. 

They  had  just  returned  from  a  successful  visit 
to  the  riets  when  the  visitors  arrived,  and  all  was 
animation  and  rejoicing  at  the  successful  take. 
Jacques  Bourassin  was  the  first  man  they  met  on 


il 


^1 


■mi 
.  'tin 

*^ 


330 


ii 


n  ! 


ii! 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


landing,  and  he  was  enthusiastic  about  tlie  pro- 
spects before  them.  Slowfoot  was  tlie  fiist  woman, 
and  she  was  quite  satisfied-in  that  amiable  state 
of  mental  and  physical  felicity  in  which  it  is  so 
easy  to  believe  that  "all  is  for  tlie  best."  Her 
husband  soon  after  appeared.  He,  of  course,  was 
also  greatly  pleased.  He  had  joined  the  fishers 
because  he  believed  that  pl;Mity  of  food,  tea,  and 
tobacco  would  be  going  amongst  them.  He  was 
not  mistaken. 

"  You  will  come  to  my  tent,"  he  said,  in  the 
wealth  of  his  hospitality  ;  "  we  have  plenty  of  good 
fish,  a  very  little  meat,  some  tobacco,  and  oceans 
of  tea ! " 

The  six  visitors  accepted  the  invitation,  and  were 
soon  made  acquainted  with  all  the  gossip  of  the 
community. 

"  Does  it  always  smoke  ?  "  whispered  Little  Bill 
to  his  brother. 

The  "  it "  referred  to  was  Baby  La  Certe,  which 
had,  as  usual,  possessed  itself  of  its  father's  pipe 
when  the  mother  was  not  watchino-. 

"  I  'm  not  sure,  Little  Bill,  but  I  think  that  it 
does  its  best." 

It  was  observed,  especially  by  Fred  Jenkins,  that 
the  tea-drinking  which  went  on  at  this  place  was 
something  marvellous. 

"There's  that  squaw  sittin'  there,"  he  said, 
"she's  bin  an'  swigged  three  pannikins  o'  tea  while' 


OF  THE  RED  llIVEll  PLAINS. 


331 


I  Ve  bin  lookiim  at  her — an'  it 's  as  black  as  ink. 
What 's  that  brown  stuff  they  put  into  it,  does  any 
one  know  ? " 

"  Tliat  ?  Why,  it  is  maple  sugar,"  answered  Archie, 
"  an'  capital  stuff  it  is  to  eat  too." 

"  Ah,  I  know  that,  for  I  've  ate  it  in  lump,  but  it 
can't  be  so  good  in  tea,  I  fancy,  as  or'nary  brown  or 
white  sugar ;  but  it 's  better  than  fat,  anyhow." 

"Eat!"  exclaimed  Little  Bill,  " surely  you  never 
heard  of  any  one  taking  fat  in  tea,  did  you  ? " 

"Ay,  that  I  did.  Men  that  move  about  the 
world  see  strange  things.  Far  stranger  things  than 
people  invent  out  o'  their  own  brains.  Why,  there 
was  one  tribe  that  I  saw  in  the  East  who  putt  fat 
in  the  tea,  an'  another  putt  salt,  and  after  they  'd 
swallowed  this  queer  kind  of  tea-soup,  they  divided 
the  leaves  among  themselves  an'  chawed  'em  up 
like  baccy." 

The  evident  delight  with  which  these  half-breeds 
and  more  than  half-Indians  swallowed  cup  after 
cup  of  the  blackest  and  bitterest  tea,  proved  be- 
yond question  their  appreciation  of  the  article,  and 
afforded  presumptive  evidence  at  least  that  tea  is 
not  in  their  case  as  poisonous  as  we  are  taught  to 
believe. 

But  it  was  not,  as  Jenkins  remarked,  all  fair 
weather,  fun,  and  tea  at  the  fishery.  After  the  six 
visitors  had  been  there  for  a  week,  shooting  and 
assisting  in  the  canoes,  and  at  the  nets,  there  came 


0 

i 
1^1 


•■aw 


Mr 


*^J 


I  I'll 


ir 


.S': 

«■*«  ■':{  lii:- 

^»S     :|      111 


11 


!i   i 


332 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


a  night  wlien  the  forces  of  Nature  declared  war 
against  the  half-breeds  and  those  sei tiers  who  had 
cast  in  theiv  lot  with  them  at  that  time. 

Jenkins,  Ok^matan,  and  Archie  had  been  out 
with  their  guns  that  day — the  last  having  been 
promoted  to  the  use  of  the  dangerous  weapon — 
and  in  their  wanderings  had  about  nightfall  come 
upon  a  family  of  half-breeds  named  Dobelle,  a  good- 
natured  set,  who  lived,  like  La  Certe,  on  the  laissez- 
faire  principle  ;  who  dwelt  in  a  little  log-hut  of 
their  own  construction  within  the  margin  of  the 
forest,  not  far  from  the  shore  of  the  great  lake. 

This  family,  though  claiming  to  be  Christian  and 
civilised,  was  little  better  than  vagrant  and  savage. 
They  were  to  some  extent  as  independent  as  the 
brute  creation  around  them — though  of  course 
they  betrayed  the  inherent  weakness  of  mankind  in 
being;  unable  to  exist  happily  without  tea,  sugar,  and 
tobacco.  For  the  rest,  their  wants  were  few  and 
easily  satisfied.  Snares  provided  willow-grouse  and 
rabbits ;  traps  gave  them  furs  and  the  means  of 
purchasing  guns  and  powder.  Their  log-hut  was 
only  an  occasional  residence.  Wherever  night  over- 
took them  they  were  at  home.  They  camped  on  the 
open  plains,  in  the  woods,  among  the  rocks,  and  on 
the  margins  of  rivers  and  lakes.  Healthy,  happy, 
and  heedless,  tht  Dobelle  family  cared  for  nothing 
apparently,  but  the  comfort  of  the  passing  hour; 
regarded  the  past  as  a  convenient  magazine  from 


ill  i 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


333 


ared  war 
who  liad 

been  out 
ing  been 
<^eapon — 
all  come 
5,  a  good- 
e  laisscz- 
g-hut  of 
n  of  the 
ike. 
tian  and 

savage, 
t  as  the 

course 
ikind  in 
gar,  and 
■ew  and 
use  and 
cans  of 
ut  was 
it  over- 

on  the 
and  on 
happy, 
othing 

hour ; 
3  from 


which  to  draw  subjects  for  gossip  and  amusement, 
and  left  the  future  to  look  after  itself. 

There  were  in  the  hut,  when  the  three  visitors 
entered,  old  Dobelle,  his  wife,  a  daughter  of  eighteen, 
another  of  four,  and  two  sons  of  twenty  and  twenty- 
two  respectively. 

"It  looks  like  dirty  weather,"  said  Jenkins  on 
entering ;  "  will  you  let  us  come  to  an  anchor  here 
for  a  bit?" 

"Give  us  shelter?"  explained  Archie,  who 
doubted  old  Dobelle's  ability  to  understand  nautical 
language. 

"  You  are  welcome,"  said  the  half-breed,  making 
way  politely,  and  pointing  to  places  on  the  floor 
where  the  visitors  were  expected  to  squat.  For 
there  was  no  furniture  in  that  mansion;  the  fire 
was  kindled  in  the  middle  of  its  one  room ;  the 
family  sat  around  it  on  deer  and  buffalo  skins,  and 
the  smoke  alike  of  pipe  and  fire  found  egress  at  the 
crevices  in  the  roof. 

With  kind  hospitality  Madame  Dobelle  poured 
some  black  tea  into  cups  of  birch  bark,  and,  on 
plates  of  the  same  material,  spread  before  them 
the  remains  of  a  feast  of  roasted  fish. 

While  eating  this,  various  questions  were  put  as 
to  the  success  of  the  fishery. 

"Yes — we  have  been  very  successful,"  said  old 
Dobelle.  "  No  bad  weather  to  speak  of,  and  plenty 
of  fish.     Our  good  fortune  is  great." 


J 


»».,! 


W  II 


i  ! 


In: 


iiii; 


I'll     ! 


I  ll 


'in:' 


T  'i 


334 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


*'  But  it  won't  last  long,"  said  the  eldest  son,  who 
seemed  to  be  the  only  growler  in  the  family. 

'^  N'imjporte — we  will  enjoy  it  while  it  lasts,"  said 
the  younger  son. 

"  Yes,  truly  we  will,"  remarked  Madame  Dobelle. 

Whereupon  the  daughter  of  eighteen  smiled,  and 
the  daughter  of  four  giggled. 

"  What  does  Ok^matan  think  ? "  asked  the  host. 

Thus  appealed  to,  the  chief  gave  it  as  his  opinion 
that  somethhig  was  going  to  happen,  for  the  sky 
in  the  nor'-west  looked  uncommonly  black.  Having 
given  utterance  to  this  cautious  remark  he  relapsed 
into  silence. 

As  if  to  justify  his  opinion,  a  tremendous  clap 
of  thunder  seemed  to  rend  the  heavens  at  that 
moment,  and,  a  few  minutes  later,  a  heavy  shower 
of  rain  fell. 

"  Well  that  we  got  inside  before  that  came  on," 
said  Archie.  "  1  hope  it  won't  come  on  to  blow, 
else  we  shall  be  storm-stayed  here." 

The  weather  seemed  to  be  in  a  lively  mood  that 
night,  for  as  the  thunder  had  promptly  answered 
to  Ok(^matan's  observation,  so  now  the  wind  re- 
plied to  Archie's  remark,  by  rushing  up  the  natural 
avenue  which  extended  from  the  hut  to  the  lake 
and  almost  bursting  in  the  door. 

"  See  to  the  ropes,  boys,"  said  old  Dobelle,  glancing 
uneasily  at  the  roof. 

The  young  men  arose,  went  out,  regardless   of 


iiihii 


OF  THE  RED  lUVEK  PLAINS. 


335 


fc  son,  who 

asts,"  said 

e  Dobelle. 
ailed,  and 

he  host. 

s  opinion 
the  sky 
Having 
relapsed 

loiis  clap 
at  that 
y  shower 

ame  on," 
to  blow, 

ood  that 
nswered 
^ind  re- 
natural 
he  lake 


flancii 


la 


less   of 


weather,  and  secured  with  additional  care  a  couple 
of  stout  ropes  with  which  the  tendency  of  the  roof 
to  fly  away  was  restrained. 

"  Did  it  ever  come  off? "  asked  Archie  with  some 
curiosity,  as  the  young  men  returned  and  resumed 
their  pipes. 

"Yes — twice,  and  both  times  it  was  night," 
answered  Madame  Dobelle,  "and  we  were  flooded 
out  and  had  to  camp  under  the  trees." 

"  Which  was  not  comfortable,"  added  ihe  old  man. 

Another  clap  of  thunder  seemed  to  corroborate 
what  he  said,  and  a  blast  of  wind  followed,  which 
caused  the  whole  fabric  of  the  hut  to  shudder. 
Jenkins  looked  inquiringly  at  the  roof. 

"  No  fear  of  it,"  said  old  Dobelle ;  "  the  ropes  are 
strong." 

Thus  assured,  the  visitors  continued  their  meal 
with  equanimity,  regardless  of  the  storm  that  soon 
began  to  rage  with  great  fury,  insomuch  that  the 
door  required  a  prop  to  keep  it  up  and  rain  began 
to  trickle  in  through  crevices  in  the  roof  and  drop 
here  and  there  upon  the  party.  When  one  such 
dron  ohanced  to  fall  on  old  Dobelle's  nose,  his 
younger  son  arose,  and,  fastening  a  piece  of  birch 
bark  to  the  rafters,  caught  the  drop  and  trained  it 
with  its  followers  to  flow  towards  an  unoccupied 
place  in  one  corner,  which,  being  accidentally  lower 
than  the  rest  of  the  floor,  formed  a  convenient 
receptacle  for  superfluous  water, 


v.! 


»IJ 


336 


I' 


i  hi 


1    !i 


I  Hi-'f 


.1  ■. 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  t^ALE 


At  the  same  time  Madame  Dobelle  made  a  shalce- 
down  of  pine  branches  in  another  corner  for  her 
^'isitors,  for  it  was  obvious  that  they  would  have 
to  spend  the  night  there,  e\?n  although  their  own 
tent  was  not  far  distant. 

By  that  time  the  storm  was  raging  with  unwonted 
violence.  Nevertheless  the  Dobolle  family  smoked 
on  in  placid  contentment.  When  the  time  for 
repose  arrived,  Madame  Dobelle  and  her  eldest 
girl  retired  to  a  box-bed  in  a  corner  of  the  hut 
which  was  screened  off — not  very  effectually — by 
a  curtain  of  birch-bark.  The  two  brothers  lay  down 
in  another  corner.  The  three  visitors  disposed 
themselves  in  the  third,  and,  as  the  fourth  was 
monopolised  by  the  rain-rivulet,  old  Dobelle  lay 
down  on  one  side  of  the  fire  in  the  centre  of  the 
room,  while  the  four-year-old  girl  reposed  on  the 
other. 

During  the  night  the  accumulation  of  tobacco- 
smoke  with  fire-smoke  produced  a  suffocating  effect, 
but  no  one  was  capable  of  suffocation  apparently, 
for  they  all  smoked  on — except  Archie,  who,  as  we 
have  said,  had  not  acquired  the  habit.  Even  the 
four-year-old  girl,  like  Baby  La  Certe,  had  a  pull 
now  and  then  at  its  father's  pipe,  and,  from  sundry 
white  emanations  from  the  crevices  in  the  bark 
curtains,  it  was  evident  that  the  ladies  behind  these 
were  enjoying  themselves  in  the  same  way  during 
the  intervals  of  repose. 


OF  THE  KED  IIIVEK  PLAINS. 


337 


Next  morning  was  fine,  and  the  three  sportsmen 
returned  to  the  fishery  to  find  that  the  storm  had 
made  an  almost  clean  sweep  of  the  nets.  It  had 
carried  most  of  them  away ;  torn  others  to  pieces, 
and  almost  ruined  the  ,/hole  colony  of  fishermen; 
the  ruin  being  all  the  more  complete  that  most  of 
the  nets  had  been  received  on  credit,  and  were  to 
be  paid  for  chiefly  by  the  results  of  the  autumn 
fishery. 

La  Certe  was  one  of  the  chief  sufferers;  never- 
theless, to  judge  from  his  looks,  La  Certe  did  not 
suffer  much!  He  had  brought  a  considerable 
amount  of  provision  with  him,  a^  we  have  said, 
and,  finding  that  one  of  his  nets  had  been  washed 
ashore,  he  proceeded  very  leisurely  to  r^^d  it, 
while  he  smoked  and  assisted  Slowfoot  to  consume 
pemmican  and  tea. 

About  this  time  a  mysterious  message  was  sent 
to  Dan  Davidson  from  Eed  Eiver  by  an  Indian, 
requiring  his  immediate  return.  The  sender  of  the 
message  was  Elspie  M'Kay;  the  summons  was 
therefore  obeyed  at  once. 

As  nothing  further  could  be  done  at  the  fishery 
that  autumn,  the  other  members  of  the  expedition, 
and  most  of  the  fishers,  returned  with  Dan  to  the 
colony. 


338 


THE  BUFFALO  KUNNEUS  :  A  'I'ALE 


CH.  PT"    ,    XXX. 


THE  TRI.      r.Kv   MITRDKH. 


'4 
J 


ft 


m 


(IL 


1   ii' 


"Dan,"  said  Elspie,  as,  seated  in  the  summer- 
house  after  the  arrival  of  the  sportsmen,  these  two 
held  a  meeting,  "  I  have  called  you  back  to  tell  you 
of  a  very  terrible  thing  which  has  been  said  of  my 
dear  brother  Duncan,  and  which  you  must  con- 
tradict at  once,  and  then  find  out  how  it  was  that 
the  false  report  arose,  and  have  the  matter  cleared 
up." 

"  Dear  Elspie,"  returned  Dan,  "  I  think  I  know 
what  you  are  going  to  tell  me." 

"  Have  you  heard  the  report,  then  ? "  said  Elspie, 
turning  pale,  "  and — and  do  you  believe  it  ? " 

"I  have  suspected — I  have — but  let  me  hear 
first  what  the  report  is,  and  who  it  came  from." 

"I  got  it  from  Annette  Pierre,  and  I  am  sure 
she  would  not  have  told  it  me  if  she  did  not  think 
it  true ;  but,  then,  poor  Annette  is  not  very  in- 
telligent, and  she  may  be — must  be — mistaken. 
She  says  that  it  was  Duncan  who  killed  poor  Henri 
Perrin,  and  that  some  of  the  half-breeds  are  deter- 


Jlliil 


OF  THE  RED  RlVEll  PLAINS. 


339 


lummer- 
ese  two 
tell  you 
I  of  my 
ist  con- 
yas  that 
cleared 

I  know 

Elspie, 

le   hear 

im  sure 
t  think 
ery  in- 
istaken. 
r  Henri 
s  deter- 


mined to  avenge  the  death  of  their  comrade.  Now, 
it  cannot  be  true ;  and  I  want  you  at  once  to  go 
and  ferret  out  the  truth,  so  as  to  prove  the  report 
false." 

" Have  you  spoken  to  Duncan  on  the  subject?" 
asked  Dan. 

"  No,  I  cannot  bear  to  let  him  imagine  even  for 
a  moment  tliat  I  could  believe  him  guilty  of  murder 
— that  I  even  suspected  him  of  it.  But  you  say 
you  have  heard  something,  Dan — that  you  suspect 
something.     What  is  it  ?  " 

"  It  is  difficult  to  say,  Elspie  dear.  I,  too,  have 
heard  the  rumour  that  has  come  to  your  ears,  a'  • 
I  have  seen — but  it  is  useless  talking  of  our  mere 
conjectures.  I  will  go  at  once  and  ferret  out  all 
about  it  if  possible.  My  first  business  will  be  to 
see  Annette  and  get  from  her  all  that  she  knows. 
Where  is  Duncan  ? " 

"In  the  wheat-field.  They  have  begun  to  shear 
to-day,  and,  as  the  crop  is  heavy,  they  will  be  glad 
of  your  help." 

Dan  went  to  the  field,  after  visiting  Annette 
Pierre,  and  lent  good  assistance  to  the  shearers, 
but,  like  Elspie,  he  found  that  he  had  not  courage 
to  say  anything  to  Duncan  that  would  indicate 
his  suspicion.  He  longed  to  put  the  question 
straight  to  him,  but  could  not  prevail  on  himself 
to  do  so. 

Next  morning,  however,  he  and  Elspie  were  both 


;i 


,*.■■ 


340 


THE  BUFFALO  UUNNEU.S  :   A  TALE 


t 


I 

I 

«  t 

"J  I 


L*'S 


■4 


Scavcd  the  necessity  of  doing  such  violence  to  their 
feelings,  by  the  arrival  of  two  men  from  Fort 
Garry.  Tliey  were  members  of  a  sort  of  police  force 
that  the  Company  had  enrolled,  and  had  come  to 
arrest  Duncan  M'Kay  junior,  on  the  charge  of 
murder ! 

There  was  not  much  of  law  in  the  colony  at  that 
time,  but  it  was  felt  that  something  had  to  be  done 
in  the  way  of  governing  a  settlement  which  was 
rapidly  increasing,  and  in  which  Lynch  and  mob 
law  would  certainly  be  applied  if  regularly  con- 
stituted authority  did  not  step  in.  As  the  murder 
of  Perrin  had  created  great  indignation  among  the 
half-breeds,  and  the  feeling  about  it  was  increasing, 
the  Company  resolved  to  clear  the  matter  up  by 
having  the  supposed  murderer  tried.  Duncan  was 
accordingly  lodged  in  one  of  the  bastions  of  Fort 
Garry,  where,  when  visited  by  the  Governor,  he 
firmly  denied  his  guilt. 

The  arrest  of  his  younger  son  on  such  a  charge 
fell  very  heavily  on  poor  Duncan  M'Kay  senior — 
more  heavily  than  those  who  knew  him  would  have 
expected.  It  touched  not  only  his  feelings  but  his 
pride;  for  was  he  not  a  lineal  descendant  of  that 
Fergus  M'Kay  who  had  been  a  chief  in  one  of  the 
Western  Isles  of  Scotland — he  could  noc  tell  which, 
but  no  matter — at  that  celebrated  period  of  Scottish 
history  when  the  great  Norse  king,  Harold  Fair- 
hair,  had  made  a  descent  on  the  Scottish  coast  and 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


341 


to  their 
ni  Fort 
ce  force 
3ome  to 
arge   of 

at  that 
De  done 
ich  was 
id  mob 
'ly  con- 
murder 
ong  the 
reasing, 

'  ^^P  by 

an  was 

of  Fort 

nor,  he 

charge 
enior — 
Id  have 
but  his 
of  that 
of  the 
which, 
5Cottish 
i  Fair- 
ast  and 


received  one  of  the  few  thorough  thrashings  that 
darkened  his  otherwise  successful  career  ? 

"0!  Tuiican,  Tuncan,  my  boy!"  cried  the  old 
man,  shoving  his  hands  deeper  into  his  breeches 
pockets,  and  apostrophising  liis  imprisoned  son  as 
he  walked  up  and  down  in  the  privacy  of  his  own 
bed-room.  "  0  that  wan  o*  the  name  should  come 
to  such  disgrace!  An'  it's  denyin'  it  you  will  be, 
whether  you  are  guilty  or  innocent.  0  Tuncan, 
Tuncan  !  you  wass  ever  notorious  for  tellin'  lies — 
an'  a  troublesome  boy  all  round — whatever." 

But  when  the  old  man  went  to  Fort  Garry  and 
visited  his  son,  he  stifled  his  pathetic  feelings,  and 
appeared  before  him  with  all  the  offended  dignity 
of  an  injured  member  of  the  great  clan  M'Kay. 

"  Are  you  guilty,  Tuncan  ?  "  he  asked,  sternly. 

"  No,  I  'm  innocent,"  answered  the  youthful  High- 
lander, with  a  brow  quite  as  stern  and  a  manner  as 
dignified  as  the  old  one. 

"  You  will  hev  to  prove  that — whatever." 

"'No— they  will  hev  to  prove  me  guilty,"  retorted 
the  son. 

"  I  wish  I  could  believe  ye,  Tuncan." 

"It  iss  not  of  much  consequence  whether  ye 
believe  me  or  not,  father.  You  are  not  to  be  my 
chudge — whatever." 

"  That  is  goot  luck  for  you,  Tuncan,  for  if  I  wass 
your  chudge  I  would  be  bound  to  condemn  you — 
you  wass  always  so  fond  o'  tellin'  lies." 


342 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNEKS  :   A  TALE 


*  W 


■mi 


::i 


iii  !| 


"  It  iss  true  wliat  you  say,  fatlier.  It  iss  a  chip 
o'  the  old  block  that  I  am — more's  the  peety." 

At  this  point  the  door  of  the  prison  opened,  and 
Elspie  was  ushered  in. 

"You  here,  father]"  she  exclaimed  in  evident 
surprise.     "  I  had  hoped  to  see  Duncan  alone." 

"  It  iss  alone  with  him  you  '11  soon  be,"  replied 
the  Highlander,  putting  on  his  hat.  "Goot  tay, 
Tuncan,  my  boy,  an'  see  that  you'll  be  tellin'  the 
truth,  if  ye  can,  when  ye  come  to  be  tried." 

To  this  the  youth  made  no  reply. 

"  0  Duncan  !  "  said  the  girl,  when  her  father  had 
retired,  "  how  came  they  to  invent  such  lies  about 
you?" 

The  tender  way  in  which  this  was  said,  and  the 
gentle  touch  on  his  arm,  almost  overcame  the  stub- 
born man,  but  he  steeled  himself  against  such  in- 
fluences. 

"  What  can  I  say,  Elspie?"  he  replied.  "  How  can 
I  tell  what  iss  the  reason  that  people  tell  lies  ? " 

"  But  it  is  lies,  isn't  it,  Duncan  ?  "  asked  the  poor 
girl,  almost  entreatingly. 

"  You  say  that  it  iss  lies — whatever,  an'  I  will  not 
be  contradictin'  you.  But  when  the  trial  comes  on 
you  will  see  that  it  cai  lot  be  proved  against  me, 
Elspie — so  keep  your  mind  easy." 

With  this  rather  unsatisfactory  assurance,  Elspie 
was  fain  to  rest  content,  and  she  returned  home  a 
little,  though  not  much,  easier  in  her  mind. 


!l  n.'^ 


OF  THE  RED  UIVEU  PLAINS. 


343 


iS  a  chip 

■y" 

ined,  and 
evident 


le. 


)} 


"  replied 
toot  tay, 
3llin'  the 


ther  had 
OS  about 

,  and  the 
the  stub- 
such  in- 

How  can 
es?" 
the  poor 

will  not 
3omes  on 
linst  me, 

e,  Elspie 
I  home  a 


To  make  the  trial  quite  fair  and  regular,  a  jury 
of  twelve  men,  chosen  by  lot  from  a  large  number, 
was  empanelled,  and  as  many  witnesses  as  possible 
were  examined.  These  last  were  not  numerous,  and 
it  is  needless  to  say  that  Annette  Pierre  and  Marie 
Blanc  were  the  chief.  I5ut  despite  their  evidence 
and  the  strong  feeling  that  existed  against  the 
prisoner,  it  was  found  impossible  to  convict  him,  so 
that  in  the  end  he  was  acquitted  and  set  free.  But 
tliere  were  men  in  the  colony  who  registered  a  vow 
that  Cloudbrow  should  not  escape.  They  believed 
him  to  be  guilty,  in  spite  of  the  trial,  and  made  up 
their  minds  patiently  to  bide  their  time. 

It  now  seemed  as  if  at  last  a  measure  of  prosperity 
were  about  to  dawn  upon  the  farmers  in  that  distant 
land,  and,  as  usual  on  such  occasions  of  approaching 
prosperity,  Dan  Davidson  and  Duncan  M'Kay  senior 
began  to  talk  of  the  wedding  which  had  been  so 
long  delayed. 

"  I  wass  thinkin'.  Tan,"  rem.arked  the  old  man  one 
morning,  while  walking  in  the  verandah  with  his 
after-breakfast  pipe,  "  that  I  will  be  getting  in  the 
crops  pretty  soon  this  year,  an'  they  're  heavy  crops 
too,  so  that  we  uay  look  forward  to  a  comfortable 
winter — whatever." 

"  True,  and  as  our  crops  are  also  very  good,  thank 
God,  I  begin  now  to  hope  that  Elspie  may  see  her 
way  to " 

"  See   her  way ! "   exclaimed  M'Kay  with  some 


344 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS :   A  TALE 


in 


»IJ 


"i 


\'.\l'  'A 


asperity :  "  she  will  hev  to  see  her  way  when  I  tell 
her  to  opeu  her  eyes  an'  look  ! " 

"Nay,  but  there  are  two  to  this  bargain,"  said 
Dan,  good-humouredly.  "I  would  not  consent  to 
have  her  on  such  terms.  She  must  fix  and  arrange 
everything  without  constraint  from  any  one — not 
even  from  you,  Duncan  MMvay." 

"  Oh !  fery  goot ! "  retorted  the  old  man  with  a 
touch  of  sarcasm  ;  "  you  know  fery  well  what  Elspie 
will  be  sayin'  to  that,  or  you  would  not  be  so  ready 
to  let  it  rest  wioh  her.  Yes,  yes,  she  is  safe  to  see 
her  way  to  go  the  way  that  you  want  her  to  go." 

It  was  a  strange  coincidence  that  at  the  very  time 
these  two  were  conversing  on  this  subject  in  the 
verandah  of  Ben  Nevis  Hall,  Mrs.  Davidson  and 
Elspie  were  discussing  the  very  same  subject  in  an 
upper  room  of  Prairie  Cottage.  We  refrain  from 
giving  the  details,  however,  as  it  would  be  unpar- 
donable to  reveal  such  matters.  We  will  merely 
state  that  the  conclusions  to  which  the  ladies  came 
were  very  similar  to  those  arrived  at  by  the  gentle- 
men. 

But  delay  was  still  destined  to  be  an  element  in 
the  cup  of  this  unfortunate  couple. 

When  the  harvest  had  been  gathered  in  that  year, 
there  came  v/hat  old  M'Kay  called  a  visitation  which, 
with  its  consequences,  recalls  irresistibly  the  words 
of  our  great  Scottish  poet — "  the  best-laid  schemes  o' 
mice  and  men  gang  aft  a-gley."    This  visitation  was 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


345 


len  I  tell 

in,"  -said 
insent  to 
I  arrange 
me — not 

I  with  a 
it  Elspie 
so  ready 
fe  to  see 

>  go." 

ery  time 

\>  in  the 

son  and 

ct  in  an 

in  from 

unpar- 

merely 

es  came 

gentle- 


a  plague  of  mice.  The  whole  colony  was  infested 
with  them.  Like  the  grasshoppers,  the  mice  devoured 
everything.  The  grain  after  being  stacked  was 
almost  totally  destroyed  by  them.  The  straw,  the 
very  stubble  itself,  was  cut  to  atoms.  The  fields,  the 
woods,  the  plains,  seemed  literally  alive  with  this 
new  visitor,  and  the  result  would  have  been  that 
most  of  the  settlers  would  again  have  been  driven 
to  spend  another  dreary  winter  in  trapping  and 
hunting:  with  the  Indians  at  Pembina,  if  it  had  not 
been  for  the  fortunate  circumstance  that  the  buffalo 
runners  had  been  unusually  successful  that  year. 
They  returned  from  the  plains  rejoicing, — their  carts 
heavily  laden  with  buffalo  robes  and  innumerable 
bags  of  pemmican. 


tnent  in 


at  year, 
L  which, 
3  words 
emes  o' 
ion  was 


346 


TIII<:  BUFFALO  KUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


CHAPTER    XXXr. 


REIHIBUTION. 


t 


.'R 


.M9 


Owing  to  the  success  of  the  buffalo  runners, 
the  winter  passed  away  in  comparative  comfort. 
But,  as  we  have  said,  some  of  the  settlers  who  had 
been  ruined  by  the  failure  of  the  fisheries  and  the 
depredations  of  the  mice,  and  who  did  not  share 
much  in  the  profits  of  the  autumn  hunt,  were 
obliged  once  again  to  seek  their  old  port  of  refuge 
at  Pembina. 

Among  these  was  the  Swiss  family  Morel.  Andre 
went,  because  he  did  not  wish  to  remain  compara- 
tively idle  in  the  colony  during  the  long  months 
of  winter.  Elise  went  for  the  purpose  of  keeping 
house — perhaps  we  should  say  keeping  hut — for 
Andr(5.  Fred  Jenkins  went  because  he  wanted  to 
learn  more  about  Indian  Avays  and  customs,  as  well 
as  to  perfect  himself  in  the  art  of  hunting  the 
buffalo — that  was  all ! 

There  were  some  who  did  not  beliave  what  the 
bold  seaman  said.  Elise  Morel  was  one  of  these 
—perhaps   the    most   unbelieving    amongst    them. 


OF  THE  RED  mVER  PLAINS. 


347 


runners, 
comfort, 
vho  had 
and  the 
ot  share 
it,  were 
f  refuge 

Andr4 
ompara- 

nionths 
keeping 
lut — for 
mted  to 

as  well 
ing  the 

hat  the 

)f  these 

them. 


Indeed,  slie  laughed  quite  hilariously  when  his 
motive  was  reported  to  her  by  Billie  Sinclair  the 
day  before  tliey  started. 

"  Why  do  you  laugh  so  ? "  inquired  Little  Bill, 
who  was  always  more  or  less  in  a  state  of  surprise 
when  he  got  upon  this  subject  with  Elise. 

"  It  is  not  easy  to  say,  Billie,"  answered  the  girl, 
with  another  pleasant  little  laugh,  "  but  it  is  so 
funny  that  a  sailor  should  take  such  a  fancy  to 
come  out  here,  so  far  away  from  his  native  element, 
and  find  so  much  interest  in  snow-shoe  walking  and 
Indian  customs." 

"  Yes,  isn't  it  ? "  responded  the  boy,  "  and  him 
such  a  fine  big  man,  too,  who  has  gone  through  so 
much,  and  seen  so  many  lands,  and  been  in  such  a 
lot  o'  fights  with  pirates,  and  all  that  kind  of  thing. 
I  can't  understand  hin  at  all.  I  wish  I  understood 
him  better,  for  I  like  him  very  much.    Don't  you  ? " 

Elise  was  so  much  taken  up  with  what  she  was 
doincj  at  the  time  that  she  could  not  answer  the 
question,  and  Billie  was  in  such  a  wandering  state 
of  mind  that  he  neglected  to  press  it ! 

Daniel  Davidson  also  went  to  Pembina  that 
winter,  because  he  could  not  bear  to  press  the  sub- 
ject of  his  marriage  just  after  the  destruction  of  his 
and  old  M'Kay's  crops  by  mice — a  disaster  which 
told  rather  heavily  on  both  families.  When  winter 
had  passed  away,  he,  along  with  many  others, 
returned  to  the  colony  and  made  preparations  for 


348 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :    A  TALE 


M 
'1 


>l 


'  tii 


going  out  to  the  plains  for  the  spring  hunt  with  the 
buffalo  runners. 

"You  will  better  not  be  goin'  wi'  them,"  said 
Duncan  M'Kay  senior  to  his  younger  son,  some 
dnys  before  the  hunters  had  arranged  to  set  out. 
"  It  will  not  be  •  safe  after  your  trial,  for  the  half- 
breeds  are  mad  at  you,  Tuncan." 

If  the  old  man  had  been  wise  enough  to  have 
left  his  son  alone,  Duncan  junior  would  probably 
have  remained  where  he  was  ;  but  the  mere  offer  of 
advice  roused  in  him  the  spirit  of  opposition,  and 
that  reference  to  the  half-breeds  decided  him. 

"  If  all  the  half-breeds  in  Rud  Eiver  wass  to  go 
as  mad  as  buffalo  bulls  wi'  their  tails  cut  off,  I  would 
go,"  said  Duncan  junior,  with  quiet  decision  of  tone 
and  manner,  as  he  lighted  his  pipe. 

"  Ay,  it  iss  that  same  you  would  do  if  you  was . 
to  be  hanged  to-morrow  for  doin'  it,  Tun'^^n,"  returned 
the  old  man  testily,  as  he  f^red  c]  .udlelr  in  rapid 
succession  from  his  compressed  lips. 

Duncan  junior  was  equally  firm  in  replying  to 
his  sister's  remonstrances  later  in  the  day. 

"You  know,  dear  Duncan,"  she  said,  "that,  although 
I  believe  you  to  be  quite  innocent,  most  of  the 
half-breeds  are  of  the  opposite  opinion,  and  some  of 
theni  are  very  revengeful,  especially  when  they  think 
they  hav(:  been  deceived  or  unjustly  treated." 

"  I  do  net  tear  the  half-breeds,"  replied  the  youth 
grutlly 


the 

SOI 

sh( 
Do 

th] 
wi 


OF  THE  UEl)  KIVKU  I'LAINS. 


349 


"  Of  course  you  don't,  JJuncan,  but  you  know 
that,  though  most  of  them  are  good,  trusty  men, 
some  are  mean  fellows,  who  would  not  hesitate  to 
shoot  you  in  the  smoke  and  confusion  of  the  hunt- 
Do  give  up  the  idea,  for  my  sake,  dear." 

"  I  would  do  much  for  your  sake,  Elspie,  but  not 
this,  for  it  iss  showin'  the  white  feather  I  am,  they 
will  be  sayin',  and,  as  father  often  says,  that  iss 
what  must  never  be  true  of  a  M'Kay." 

Accordingly,  Duncan  junior  mounted  his  horse 
and  accompanied  Dan,  Peter,  Fergus,  Okematan, 
Morel,  Jenkins,  and  others  to  the  plains,  where 
they  found  that  the  main  body  of  the  hunters,  under 
Antoine  Dechamp,  had  arrived  just  before  them. 
Kateegoose  was  also  there,  and  La  Certe,  who  once 
more  tried  his  fortune  at  the  chase  under  all  the 
advantages  of  a  new  cart  and  horse,  a  new  gun,  and 
a  new  outfit — all  received  on  credit — to  be  paid  for 
by  the  proceeds  of  the  chase,  as  the  creditors,  hoping 
against  hope,  tried  to  believe  ;  never  to  be  paid  for 
at  all,  as  the  easy-going  La  Certe  more  than  half 
suspected — though  he  was  far  too  honest  a  man 
to  admit  that  even  to  himself. 

Of  course,  Slowfoot  was  with  him — amiaKe, 
meek,  and  silent  as  ever.  And  so  was  Baby  La 
Certe,  a  five-year-old  by  that  time,  and  obviously 
a  girl  with  a  stronger  penchant  than  ever  for 
tobacco  ! 

"The  buffalo    have   been    found    already,"  said 


350 


Till-:  IJUFFALO  UUNNFIIS:   A  TALE 


Decliainp  to  Dan  Davidson,  as  the  latter  rode  into 
camp  at  the  head  of  his  party.  "  Bourassin  has 
just  come  in  witli  the  report  that  they  are  in  great 
numbers  away  to  tlie  nor'-west,  so  we  will  make  a 
fair  start  first  tliino;  in  the  mornincj." 

As  he  spoke,  Dcchamp  glanced  with  evident  sur- 
prise at  Duncan  M'Kay. 

"  Why  did  you  let  him  come  ? "  he  said  in  an 
undertone  to  Dan,  as  they  were  tying  up  tlie  horses. 

"  How  coidd  I  prevent  liim  ?  "  replied  Dan. 

Next  morning  all  was  bustle,  eager  expectation, 
and  lively  conversation  in  the  camp.  Archie  was 
there  again,  promoted  to  the  condition  of  a  full- 
fledged  hunter  by  the  possession  of  a  gun.  Little 
Bill  was  there  also.  He  had  improved  so  much  in 
health  and  strength  that  he  was  permitted  to  ride 
with  the  runners  on  a  pony ;  but  was  to  content 
himself  with  viewing  the  battle  from  afar — that  is, 
well  in  rear. 

"  Now,  Little  Bill,"  said  Archie,  with  the  serious- 
ness of  a  grandfather,  as  they  galloped  with  the 
hunters  over  the  rolling  plains,  across  wliich  were 
streaming  the  first  beams  of  the  rising  sun,  "  you 
must  promise  me  to  keep  well  in  rear,  and  on  no 
account  to  join  in  the  chase.  It 's  of  no  use  to  go 
in  without  a  gun,  you  know,  and  there  is  great  risk 
when  in  the  thick  of  it,  that  you  may  come  across  a 
bullet  or  two.  You  '11  have  all  the  fun  without  the 
danger.  Little  Bill." 


OF  THE  KED  lUVEK  TLAINS. 


351 


'ode  into 

ssin    has 

i  in  great 

make  a 


lent  SUV- 
id  in  an 
e  horses. 
m. 

ectation, 
chie  was 
F  a  full- 
,  Little 
much  in 
to  ride 
content 
-that  is, 

scrious- 
dth  the 
3h  were 
n,  "you 
I  on  no 
se  to  go 
3at  risk 
across  a 
lout  the 


All  right,  old  boy  ;  I'll  do  my  best. 


•chi 


Jenk 


illopi 


"  Hallo, 

alongside,  with  the  blunderbuss  in  his  left  hand, 
"  I  've  bin  lookin'  for  you,  lad.  It 's  not  easy  to  spy 
out  a  friend  in  such  a  shoal  o'  queer  craft.  Are  'ee 
goin'  to  sail  alongside  o'  me  this  bout  ?  " 

**  Of  course  I  am,  Fred.  A  man  tliat  can  steer  his 
way  by  compass  over  such  a  sea  o'  grass  is  worth 
holdini>-  on  to." 

"Well,  then,  heave  ahead.  We  '11  hunt  in  couples. 
I  see  they  're  gettin'  into  line  o'  battle,  wliich  means 
that  the  enemy 's  in  view." 

The  sailor  was  right.  BufAilo  were  seen  grazing 
in  the  far  distance,  and  the  cavalcade  was  getting 
into  line  so  as  to  advance  in  good  order. 

As  on  a  former  occasion,  they  approached  at  a 
slow  pace  until  the  animals  began  to  lift  their 
heads  and  throw  inquiring  glances  in  the  direction 
from  which  the  mounted  host  came.  Then  the 
word  was  given  to  trot,  and,  finally,  to  charge. 

The  rush  on  this  occasion  was  even  more  tremen- 
dous than  on  the  former,  for  there  were  considerably 
more  men,  and  a  larger  herd  of  buffalo. 

The  lumbering  heavy  gait  of  the  latter  at  the 
first  start  did  not  suggest  the  racing  speed  to  which 
the  clumsy  creatures  attained  when  they  were  hard 
pressed.  Soon  the  dropping  shots  of  the  fast  riders 
swelled  into  the  rattling  musketry  of  the  real  fight, 
and  ere  long  the  plain  became  strewed  with  dead 


352 


THE  BUFFALO  KUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


m 


'4 


and  wounded  animals,  while  smoke  and  dust 
obscured  the  air. 

There  was  no  order  maintained  after  the  first 
onset.  Every  man  seemed  to  fight  for  his  own 
hand.  Crossing  and  re-crossing  and  firing  reck- 
lessly in  all  directions,  it  seemed  a  very  miracle 
that  no  fatal  accidents  occurred.  Minor  ones  there 
were.  Archie  and  his  nautical  comrade  witnessed 
a  few  of  these. 

"  I  say,  look  at  Bourassin  ! "  exclaimed  the  former, 
pointing  to  the  left  with  his  nose — both  hands  being 
fully  engaged  with  gun  and  Liidle. 

The  seaman's  eye  turned  in  the  direction  indi- 
cated, and  he  beheld  Bourassin's  horse  stopped  by 
the  hairy  forehead  of  a  buffalo  bull,  while  Bourassin 
himself  was  in  the  act  of  describing  a  magnificent 
parabolic  curve  over  the  buffalo's  back.  He  alighted 
on  his  back,  fortunately  on  a  low  bush,  a  yard  or 
two  beyond  the  buffalo's  tail. 

"  Killed ! "  exclaimed  Jenkins,  anxiously,  as  he 
turned  his  horse  in  the  direction  of  the  fallen  man 

But  the  s^:;aman  was  wrong.  The  hunter  did 
indeed  lie  flat  and  motionless  for  a  few  seconds — 
which  was  just  as  well,  for  it  gave  the  bull  time 
to  toss  off  the  horse,  turn,  and  leap  over  the 
prostrate  man  in  continuing  its  flight;  but  in 
another  moment  Bourassin  was  on  his  feet,  soon 
caught  his  trembling  horse,  remounted,  and  con- 
tinued the  chase. 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


353 


id    dust 

the  first 
his  own 
ig  reek- 
miracle 
les  there 
itnessed 

}  former, 
cIs  being 

m  indi- 
pped  by 
ourassin 
jnificent 
alighted 
yard  or 

as  he 
n  man 
iter  did 
conds — 
ill  time 
veT  the 
but  in 
et,  soon 
id  con- 


A  little  further  on  they  saw  Teter  Davidson's 
horse  put  his  foot  in  a  badger-hole,  the  result  of 
which  was  that  the  horse  rolled  over  in  one  direc- 
tion, while  the  expert  Peter,  tumbling  cleverly  to 
one  side,  rolled  away  in  another  direction  like  a 
Catherine-wheel.  Both  horse  and  man  arose  un- 
hurt, and,  like  Bourassin,  continued  the  chase. 

"Necks  ain't  easy  broke  in  this  here  country," 
remarked  the  seaman,  as  Archie  pushed  past  him 
in  pursuit  of  a  fat  young  cow. 

"Not  often.  Necks  are  tough,  you  see,  and 
ground  is  mostly  soft,"  cried  Archie,  as  he  fired 
and  dropped  the  cow. 

"  Who 's  that  away  to  the  right,  ridin'  like  a 
madman  after  a  calf?"  asked  Jenkins,  overtaking 
Archie,  who  was  recharging  his  gun  at  the  gallop. 

"Who — where?"  cried  the  boy,  looking  impa- 
tiently round. 

"  Keep  cool,  lad !  Whatever  condition  you  chance 
to  be  in,  whether  of  danger  or  safety,  always  keep 
cool.  For  why? — it  makes  you  comfortable,  or 
more  fit  for  action,  as  the  case  may  be.  See,  the 
fellow  over  there  half-hidden  by  smoke." 

"  Why,  that's  Duncan  M'Kay.  You  might  know 
him  by  his  hat." 

"  I  ain't  a  good  judge  o'  hats,"  remarked  the  sea- 
man, as  he  fired  at  a  bull  and  missed  it.  "Ha! 
that  comes  o'  firin'  at  long  range,"  he  said.  "It 
was  at  least  six  yards  off',  an'  I  can't  count  on  the 


354 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNF.RS  :  A  TALE 


!-« 


.1: 


¥ 
^ 


old  blunderbuss  beyond  five.  Better  luck  next 
time ! " 

"  Hallo  !  Jenkins,  did  you  hear  that  ? " 

"  What  ? " 

"  That  shriek  ?    1  'ni  sure  some  one  has  been  hurt." 

"Very  likely,  lad.  There's  many  a  cropper  a- 
goin'  on  just  now,  an'  we  can't  all  expect  to  come 
off  scot-free." 

"The  voice  sounded  like  that  of  Fergus,"  said 
Archie,  "  but  I  can  see  nothing  for  smoke  now.  Is 
that  a  man  on  the  ground  over  there  ? " 

"  Don't  know,  Archie.  Out  o'  the  way,  lad ; 
there 's  another  chance.     Must  get  closer  this  time." 

The  tide  of  the  chase  swept  on  with  irresistible 
fury,  and  not  one  of  all  the  band  saw  that  the  man 
who  had  fallen  did  not  rise. 

Following  close  in  rear,  and  profoundly  excited 
with  this  new  and  wild  experience  of  life,  came 
Little  Bill,  galloping  along  on  his  pony. 

The  poor  boy  had  either  greatly  benefited  by  his 
recent  adventures,  or  a  change  had  taken  place  in 
his  constitution,  for  he  rode  with  ease,  and  found 
that  he  could  walk  considerable  distances  without 
the  old  weary  feeling  of  exhaustion. 

As  Little  Bill  passed  over  the  prairie,  which 
resembled  a  field  of  battle  where,  not  men,  but, 
buffaloes  had  been  the  combatants,  he  came  sud- 
denly upon  the  dismounted  hunter,  who  lay  prone 
upon  his  face. 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


355 


ck  next 


3n  hurt." 

3pper  a- 

to  come 


as,"  said 
low.     Is 

ay,  lad; 
ds  time." 
resistible 
the  man 

excited 
fe,  came 

d  by  his 

place  in 

d  found 

without 

!,  which 
en,  but, 
me  sud- 
ly  prone 


"  Poor  man  ! "  thought  Little  Bill,  pulling  up  and 
dismounting,  "he  seems  to  have  been  badly  stunned." 

Stooping  down  he  turned  the  fallen  man  over  on 
his  back  with  some  difficulty,  and  then  discovered, 
to  his  consternation,  that  it  was  young  Duncan 
M'Kay,  and  that  blood  was  flowing  from  a  wound 
in  his  side. 

The  shock  at  first  deprived  Billie  of  the  power 
to  do  anything,  but  in  a  very  few  minutes  his  strong 
common  sense  returned,  and  his  first  act  was  to  open 
Duncan's  coat  and  stanch  the  wound.  This  he 
accomplished  by  means  of  a  strip  torn  off  the  poor 
man's  cotton  shirt,  and  the  long  red  worsted  belt 
with  which  the  hunter's  capote  was  bound.  Then 
he  took  from  his  pocket  a  small  bottle  of  water, 
with  which  he  had  provided  himself  in  case  of 
need,  and  poured  a  little  into  Duncan's  mouth. 

The  result  of  these  operations  was  that  the  fallen 
man  opened  his  eyes  after  a  while,  raised  himself 
on  one  elbow,  and  looked  round  in  a  dazed  manner. 

"  What  iss  it  that  has  come  over  me  ? "  he  asked, 
faintly. 

"You  have  fallen  off  your  horse,  I  think,"  answered 
the  boy,  "  and  I — I  'm  afraid  a  bullet  has  wounded 
you  in  the  side." 

"  Bullet !  Side !  "  exclaimed  Duncan,  looking 
quickly  down  at  the  bandage,  and  attempting  to 
rise.     "  Little  Bill,  you  must " 

He  stopped  ;  seemed  to  grow  faint,  and  fell  down ; 


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356 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


)4 
'4 


but  quickly  raised  himself  again  on  one  elbow  and 
looked  round. 

"Shot! — dying!"  he  muttered;  then  turning  to 
the  boy — "  Stay  by  me,  Little  Bill.  Don't  leave  me 
here  all  alone." 

"  No,  I  won't  leave  you,  unless — perhaps  it  would 
be  better  if  I  rode  back  to  camp  for  help." 

"  True,  true.  It 's  my  only  chance,"  said  the  poor 
man,  faintly.  "  Go,  Billie,  and  go  quick.  Put  some- 
thing under  my  head.  And — stay — leave  your  gun 
with  me." 

"  I  'm  so  sorry  I  haven't  got  one,  but  here  is  my 
bottle  of  water ;  you  may  want  that,  and " 

He  stopped,  for  Duncan  had  evidently  fainted 
again. 

The  poor  boy  was  terribly  alarmed  at  this.  He 
had  wit  enough  to  perceive  that  prompt  action  was 
needed,  for  his  friend  was  in  very  great  danger, 
while  the  buffalo  runners  were  by  that  time  out  of 
sight  in  front,  and  the  camp  was  far  behind.  In 
this  crisis  Billie  acted  with  decision.  First  making 
the  bandage  over  the  wound  more  secure,  and  pour- 
ing a  little  more  water  into  the  mouth  of  the 
wounded  man,  he  went  to  a  clump  of  willows,  and 
cut  a  stout  switch,  then,  remounting,  he  turned  on 
his  track  and  made  straight  for  the  camp  as  fast  as 
his  willing  pony  could  be  made  to  lay  hoof  to  the 
ground. 

Arrived  there,  to  his  great  relief  he  found  the 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


357 


Cree  chief  Okdmatan,  for  that  eccentric  individual 
had,  owing  to  some  unknown  reason,  refrained  from 
joining  in  the  hunt  that  day.  La  Certe  was  also 
there. 

In  a  few  minutes,  mounted  on  a  fresh  horse. 
Little  Bill  was  galloping  over  the  prairie,  acting  as 
guide  to  Ok^matan,  while  La  Certe  followed  them, 
driving  a  cart  with  a  couple  of  buffalo  robes  in 
it. 

That  night,  instead  of  rejoicing  in  the  camp  of 
the  buffalo  runners  after  their  successful  hunt,  there 
was  uneasiness  and  gloom,  for  Duncan  M'Kay  lay 
in  his  tent  dangerously  wounded,  and  it  was  gene- 
rally believed  thai  the  shot  which  laid  him  low 
had  been  fired  not  by  accident,  but  with  deliberate 
intent  to  kill. 


358 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


CHAPTEE   XXXII. 


SUFFBUINQ  AND  ITS  RESULTS. 


•4 


4 
'4 

■m 


When  the  news  that  young  Duncan  had  been 
shot  was  brought  to  Ben  Nevis,  the  effect  on  his 
father  was  much  more  severe  than  might  have 
been  expected,  considering  their  respective  feelings 
towards  each  other. 

It  was  late  in  the  evening  when  the  news  came, 
and  the  old  man  was  seated  in  what  he  styled  his 
smoking-room,  taking  his  evening  glass  of  whisky 
and  water. 

"  Elspie,"  he  said,  in  a  subdued  voice,  on  being 
told,  "  help  me  up  to  my  bed." 

This  was  so  very  unusual  a  request  that  Elspie 
was  somewhat  alarmed  by  it,  as  well  as  surprised — 
all  the  more  so  that  the  old  man  left  the  room 
without  finishing  either  his  pipe  or  glass.  Still, 
she  did  not  suppose  that  anything  serious  would 
come  of  it.  A  night's  rest,  she  thought,  would  do 
away  with  the  evils  of  the  shock. 

"  Dear  father,"  she  said,  as  she  kissed  him  at  part- 
ing, "  do  believe  that  God  is  waiting  to  be  gracious  : 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


359 


ad  been 

b  on  his 

ht  have 

feelings 

^s  came, 

j^led  his 

whisky 


n  being 


;  Elspie 
3rised — 
LB  room 
Still, 
J  would 
ould  do 

at  part- 
'acious : 


that  He  really  means  it  when  He  says, '  Come  unto 
me,  all  ye  that  labour  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I 
will  give  you  rest.'  And,  consider — we  have  no 
reason  to  suppose  that  dear  Duncan's  wound  is  very 
dangerous." 

"  Goot-night,  Elspie,"  was  all  the  reply. 

Next  morning  M'Kay  did  not  make  his  appear- 
ance at  the  usual  breakfast-hour,  and,  on  going  to 
his  room,  they  found  him  lying  speechless  in  his 
bed,  suffering  under  a  stroke  of  paralysis. 

He  soon  recovered  the  power  of  speech,  but  not 
the  use  of  his  limbs,  and  it  became  evident  ere  long 
that  the  poor  man  had  received  a  shock  which  would 
probably  cripple  him  for  life.  Whatever  may 
have  been  his  secret  thoughts,  however,  he  carefully 
concealed  them  from  every  one,  and  always  referred 
to  his  complaint  as  "  this  nasty  stiff  feeling  about 
the  legs  which  iss  a  long  time  of  goin'  away — what- 
ever." 

In  a  few  days,  Fergus  returned  from  the  plains, 
bringing  his  brother  in  a  cart,  which  had  been  made 
tolerably  easy  by  means  of  a  springy  couch  of  pine 
branches.  They  did  not  tell  him  at  first  of  his 
father's  illness,  lest  it  should  interfere  with  his  own 
recovery  from  the  very  critical  condition  in  which 
he  lay.  At  first  he  took  no  notice  of  his  father's 
non-appearance,  attributing  it  to  indifference;  but 
when  he  began  slowly  to  mend,  he  expressed  some 
surprise.    Then  they  told  him. 


■.  I-'  • 

in 


360 


THE  BUFFALO  KUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


4 
J 

^1 


Whatever  may  have  been  his  thoughts  on  the 
subject,  he  gave  no  sign,  but  received  the  inform- 
ation— as,  indeed,  he  received  nearly  all  information 
at  that  time — in  absolute  silence. 

Fortunately,  the  bullet  which  struck  him  had 
passed  right  through  his  side,  so  that  he  was  spared 
the  pain,  as  well  as  the  danger,  of  its  extraction. 
But,  from  his  total  loss  of  appetite  and  continued 
weakness,  it  was  evident  that  he  had  received  some 
very  severe,  if  not  fatal,  internal  injury.  At  last, 
very  slowly,  he  began  to  grow  a  little  stronger,  but 
he  was  a  very  shadow  or  wreck  of  his  former  self. 
Nevertheless,  the  more  sanguine  members  of  the 
family  began  to  entertain  some  faint  hope  of  his 
recovery. 

Of  course,  during  these  first  days  of  his  weakness 
his  sister  Elspie  nursed  him.  She  would,  if  permitted, 
have  done  so  night  and  day,  but  in  this  matter  she 
had  to  contend  with  one  who  was  more  than  a  match 
for  her.    This  was  Old  Peg,  the  faithful  domestic. 

"  No,  no,  dearie,"  said  that  resolute  old  woman, 
when  Elspie  first  promulgated  to  her  the  idea  of 
sitting  up  all  night  with  Duncan,  "you  will  do 
nothin'  of  the  sort.  Your  sainted  mother  left  your 
father  an'  Fergus  an'  yourself  to  my  care,  an'  I  said 
I  would  never  fail  you,  so  I  can't  break  my  promise 
by  letting  you  break  your  health.  I  will  sit  up 
wi'  him,  as  I  've  done  many  a  time  when  he  was  a 
bairn." 


OF  THE  RED  RIVEU  PLAINS. 


361 


3  on  the 
3  inform- 
ormation 

him  had 
IS  spared 
:traction. 
Dntinued 
^ed  some 
At  last, 
iger,  but 
ner  self. 
;  of  the 
3  of  his 

weakness 
rmitted, 
itter  she 
a  match 
aestic. 
woman, 
idea  of 
will  do 
ft  your 
l'  I  said 
promise 
sit  up 
)  was  a 


It  thus  came  to  pass  that  Elspie  nursed  her 
brother  by  day,  and  Old  Peg  sat  up  with  him  at 
night.  Of  course  the  duties  of  the  former  were 
considerably  lightened  by  the  assistance  rendered 
by  various  members  of  the  family,  as  well  as  friends, 
who  were  ever  ready  to  sit  by  the  bedside  of  the 
wounded  man  and  read  to  or  chat  with  him.  At 
such  times  he  was  moderately  cheerful,  but  when 
the  night  watches  came,  and  Old  Peg  took  her 
place  beside  him,  and  memory  had  time  to  commence 
with  him  undisturbed,  the  deed  of  which  he  had 
had  been  guilty  was  forced  upon  him ;  Conscience 
was  awakened,  and  self-condemnation  was  the 
result.  Yet,  so  inconsistent  is  poor  humanity  that 
self-exculpation  warred  with  self-condemnation  in 
the  same  brain!  The  miserable  man  would  have 
given  all  he  possessed  to  have  been  able  to  persuade 
himself  that  his  act  was  purely  one  of  self-defence 
— as  no  doubt  to  some  extent  it  was,  for  if  he 
had  not  fired  first  Perrin's  action  showed  that  he 
would  certainly  have  been  the  man-slayer.  But, 
then,  young  M'Kay  could  not  shut  his  eyes  to  the 
fact  that  premeditation  had,  in  the  first  instance, 
induced  him  to  extend  his  hand  towards  his  gun, 
and  this  first  act  it  was  which  had  caused  all  the  rest. 

Often  during  the  wakeful  hours  of  the  night 
would  the  invalid  glance  at  his  nurse  with  a  long- 
ing desire  to  unburden  his  soul  to  her,  but  whenever 
his  eye  rested  on  her  calm,  wrinkled  old  visage. 


1 


\n 


'.tm 


362 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


and  he  thought  of  her  deafness,  and  the  difficulty  of 
making  her  understand,  he  abandoned  his  half- 
formed  intention  with  a  sigh.  He  did  not,  indeed, 
doubt  her  sympathy,  for  many  a  time  during  his 
life,  especially  when  a  child,  had  he  experienced  the 
strength  and  tenderness  of  that. 

After  attending  to  his  wants,  it  was  the  habit  of 
Old  Peg  to  put  on  a  pair  of  tortoise-shell  spectacles 
and  read.  Her  only  book  was  the  Bible.  She  read 
nothing  else — to  say  truth,  at  that  time  there  was 
little  else  to  read  in  Eed  Kiver.  The  first  night  of 
her  watch  she  had  asked  the  invalid  if  he  would  like 
her  to  read  a  few  verses  to  him. 

"You  may  if  you  like.  Peg,"  he  had  replied. 
"  You  know  it  iss  little  I  care  for  releegion,  for  I 
don't  believe  in  it,  but  you  may  read  if  you  like — 
it  may  amuse  me,  an'  will  help  to  make  the  time 
pass — whatever." 

Thus  the  custom  was  established.  It  was  plain 
that  the  old  woman  counted  much  on  the  influence 
of  the  simple  Word  of  God,  without  comment,  for 
every  time  she  opened  the  Bible  she  shut  her  eyes 
and  her  lips  moved  in  silent  prayer  before  she  began 
to  read. 

The  invalid  was  greatly  tickled  with  this  little 
preliminary  prayer,  and  would  have  laughed  aloud 
if  he  had  not  been  too  weak  to  do  so.  As  time 
went  on,  however,  he  became  interested  in  the 
Gospel  narratives  in  spite  of  himself,  and  he  began 


'.S£,i 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


363 


ficulty  of 
lis  half- 
b,  indeed, 
iring  his 
need  the 

habit  of 
pectacles 
She  read 
here  was 

night  of 
ould  like 

replied. 
t)n,  for  I 
u  like — 
he  time 

as  plain 
nfluence 
lent,  for 
ler  eyes 
e  began 

is  little 
d  aloud 
Ls  time 
in  the 
3  began 


to  experience  some  sort  of  relish  for  the  evening 
reading — chiefly  because,  as  he  carefully  explained 
to  Elspie,  "  the  droning  o'  the  old  wumman's  voice  " 
sent  him  to  sleep. 

Meanwhile  the  other  invalid — Duncan  senior — 
progressed  as  slowly  as  did  his  son.  The  nursing 
of  him  was  undertaken  chiefly  by  Jessie  Davidson 
— the  sympathetic  Jessie — who  was  established  as 
an  inmate  of  Ben  Nevis  pro  tern,  for  that  very 
purpose.  She  was  ably  seconded — during  part  of 
each  day — by  Billie  Sinclair,  between  whom  and  the 
old  Highlander  there  grew  up  at  that  time  a  strong 
friendship.  For  many  weeks  poor  old  M'Kay  was 
confined  to  his  bed,  and  then,  when  allowed  to  rise, 
he  could  only  walk  across  his  room  with  the  aid  of 
the  strong  arm  of  his  stalwart  son  Fergus.  To  sit 
at  his  open  window  and  look  out  at  his  garden  was 
his  principal  amusement,  and  smoking  a  long  clay 
pipe  his  chief  solace.  Like  Duncan  junior,  old 
Duncan  was  quite  willing  to  hear  the  Bible  read 
to  him  now  and  then,  by  Jessie  Davidson  and 
more  especially  by  Little  Bill;  but  the  idea  of 
deriving  any  real  comfort  from  that  book  never 
for  a  moment  entered  his  head. 

One  day  Elspie  came  to  him  and  said:  "Daddy, 
Dan  wants  to  see  you  to-day,  if  you  feel  well 
enough." 

"  Surely,  my  tear.  It  iss  not  the  first  time  he 
will  be  seein'  me  since  I  got  the  stroke." 


364 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS :   A  T^VLE 


I'M 


'.Ml 


! 


"  He  has  brought  you  a  present — something  that 
he  has  made — which  he  hopes  will  be  useful  to 
you." 

"  What  is  it,  Elspie  ? " 

"  You  shall  see.  May  I  tell  him  to  come  in  and 
bring  it  with  him  ?" 

"Surely,  my  tear.  Let  him  come  in.  It  iss 
always  goot  for  sore  eyes  to  see  himself — whatever." 

Elspie  went  out.  A  few  minutes  later  there  was 
heard  in  the  passage  a  strange  rumbling  sound. 

"  What  in  all  the  world  iss  that  ? "  said  the  old 
man  to  Little  Bill,  who  happened  to  be  his  companion 
at  the  time. 

"  It  sounds  like  \vheels,  I  think,"  said  Billie. 

The  door  opened  as  he  spoke,  and  Dan  Davidson 
entered,  pushing  before  him  an  invalid  chair  of  a 
kind  that  is  familiar  enough  in  the  civilised  world, 
but  which  was  utterly  unknown  at  that  time  in 
those  regions. 

"  Goot-mornin',  Tan ;  what  hev  you  got  there  ? 
Iss  it  a  surprise  you  will  be  givin'  me  ? " 

"  It  is  a  chair,  sir,  which  will,  I  hope,  add  a  good 
deal  to  your  comfort,"  said  Dan.  "  I  made  it  my- 
self, from  the  memory-model  of  one  which  I  once 
saw  in  the  old  country.  See,  I  will  show  you  how 
it  acts.     Push  me  along,  Jessie." 

Dan  sat  down  in  the  chair  as  he  spoke,  and  his 
sister  Jessie,  who  entered  at  the  moment,  pushed 
him  all  about  the  room  with  the  greatest  ease. 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


365 


ihing  that 
useful  to 


le  in  and 

.     It  iss 

hatever." 

ihere  was 

und. 

i  the  old 

)mpanion 

Hie. 

Davidson 

tiair  of  a 

id  world, 

time  in 

•t  there  ? 

d  a  good 
3  it  my- 
L  I  once 
^ou.  how 

and  his 
pushed 
3e. 


"  Well,  well ! "  said  the  amused  invalid.  "  Ye  are 
a  clever  man,  Taniel.  It  is£  a  goot  contrivance,  an' 
seems  to  me  fery  well  made.  Could  Little  Bill 
push  it,  think  ye  ?     Go  an'  try,  boy." 

Little  Bill  found  that  he  could  push  Dan  in 
the  chair  as  easily  as  Jessie  had  done  it. 

"  But  that  is  not  all,"  said  Dan.  "  See — now  I 
will  work  the  chair  myself." 

So  saying  he  laid  his  hands  on  the  two  large 
wheels  at  either  side — which,  with  a  little  wheel 
behind,  supported  the  machine — and  moved  it  about 
the  rc^m,  turned  it  round,  and,  in  short,  acted  in  a 
very  independent  manner  as  to  self-locomotion. 

"  Well,  now,  that  iss  goot,"  exclaimed  the  pleased 
invalid.     "  Let  me  try  it.  Tan." 

In  his  eagerness  the  poor  man,  forgetting  for  a 
moment  his  helpless  condition,  made  an  effort  to 
rise,  and  would  certainly  have  fallen  off  the  chair 
on  which  he  was  seated  if  Elspie  had  not  sprung  to 
his  assistance. 

"  Come,  there 's  life  in  you  yet ! "  said  Dan  as  he 
assisted  the  old  man  into  the  wheel-chair.  "Put 
your  hands — so.  And  when  you  want  to  turn 
sharp  round  you  've  only  to  pull  with  one  hand  and 
push  with " 

"  Get  along  with  you,"  interrupted  the  old  man, 
facetiously  giving  the  chair  a  swing  that  caused  all 
who  stood  around  him  to  leap  out  of  his  way  :  "  will 
you  hev  the  presumption  to  teach  a  man  that  knew 


366 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS :  A  TALE 


4 


"4 


ir 


how  to  scull  a  boat  before  you  wass  born  ?  But, 
Taniel,"  he  added,  in  a  more  serious  tone,  "we 
must  hev  one  like  this  made  for  poor  Tuncan." 

As  this  was  the  first  reference  which  M'Kay  had 
made  to  his  younger  son  since  his  illness — with  the 
exception  of  the  daily  inquiry  as  to  his  health — it 
was  hailed  as  an  evidence  that  a  change  for  the 
better  was  taking  place  in  the  old  man's  mind. 
For  up  to  that  period  no  one  had  received  any 
encouragement  to  speak  of  or  enter  into  conversa- 
tion about  Duncan  junior. 

"You  are  right,"  returned  Dan.  "I  have  been 
thinking  of  that,  and  have  even  laid  in  the  wood  to 
make  a  similar  chair  for  him.  But  1  fear  he  won't 
be  able  to  use  it  for  some  time  to  come.  Elspie  was 
thinking,  if  you  don't  object,  to  have  your  bedroom 
changed  to  one  of  the  rooms  on  the  ground  floor, 
so  that  you  could  be  wheeled  into  the  garden  when 
so  inclined." 

"  Yes,  daddy,"  said  Elspie,  taking  up  the  discourse; 
"  we  can  put  you  into  the  room  that  corresponds 
with  Duncan's  room  at  the  other  end  of  the  house, 
so  that  you  and  he  will  be  able  to  meet  after  your 
long  illness.  But  there  is  another  contrivance 
which  Dan  has  been  making  for  us— not  for  you, 
but  for  Old  Peg.    Tell  daddy  about  it,  Dan." 

"Like  the  chair,"  said  Dan,  "it  is  no  novelty, 
except  in  this  out-o'-the-way  place.    You  see,   I 


have  noticed  that  Old  Peg  is  rather  deaf- 


» 


OF  THE  RED  RIVEU  PLAINS. 


367 


rn  ?    But, 
tone,  "we 


)i 


!an. 
['Kay  had 
-with  the 
lealth — it 
e  for  the 
n's  mind. 
3ived  any 
conversa- 

lave  been 
3  wood  to 
he  won't 
Ispie  was 
bedroom 
nd  floor, 
len  when 

iscourse; 
responds 
e  house, 
ter  your 
itrivance 
for  you, 

novelty, 

I  see,   I 
» 


"Well,  Tan,"  interrupted  old  M'Kay  with  a  be- 
nignant smile,  "it  iss  not  much  observation  that 
you  will  be  requirin'  to  see  that ! " 

"Just  so.  Well,  I  also  observed  that  it  gives 
Duncan  some  trouble  to  speak  loud  enough  to  her. 
So  I  have  invented  a  sort  of  ear-trumpet — a  tin  pipe 
with  an  ear-piece  at  one  end  and  a  mouth-piece  at 
the  other,  which  I  hope  may  make  things  easier." 

**  Hev  ye  not  tried  it  yet  ? "  asked  M'Kay. 

"  Not  yet.     I  've  only  just  brought  it" 

"  Go  down,  lad,  an'  try  it  at  wanse,  an'  let  me 
know  what  the  upshot  iss." 

Down  they  all  went  accordingly,  leaving  Duncan 
senior  alone. 

They  found  Old  Peg  in  the  act  of  administering 
beef-tea  refreshment — or  something  of  that  sort — 
to  the  invalid.  Peter  Davidson  and  Archie  Sinclair 
were  there  also,  paying  him  a  visit. 

"  Hallo,  Little  Bill ! "  said  Archie  as  his  brother 
entered.  "  You  here !  T  guessed  as  much.  Your 
passion  for  nursing  since  you  attended  Dan  is  out- 
rageous. You  do  more  nursing  in  this  house,  I 
do  believe,  than  Elspie  and  Jessie  and  Old  Peg  put 
together.  What  d'ee  mean  by  it.  Bill?  I  get  no 
good  of  you  at  all  now !  " 

"  I  like  it,  Archie,  and  I  'm  training  myself  to 
nurse  you  when  you  get  ill  or  old ! " 

"Thank  'ee  for  nothin'.  Little  Bill,  for  I  don't 
mean  to  become  either  ill  or  old  for  some  time  to 


368 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS :  A  TALE 


■!i 


come;   but,  I  say,   are  they  goin'  to  perform  an 
operation  on  Old  Peg's  head  ? " 

This  was  said  in  consequence  of  Elspie  shouting 
to  the  old  woman  to  let  her  put  something  into  her 
ear  to  cure  deafness. 

"Cure  deafness!"  she  exclaimed,  with  el  faint 
laugh,  "  nothin'  will  ever  cure  my  deafness.  But  I 
can  trust  you,  dearie,  so  do  what  you  please." 

"  Shut  your  eyes,  then." 

("  And  open  your  mouth ! ")  said  Archie  to  Little 
Bill  in  a  low  voice. 

Old  Peg  did  as  she  was  bid.  Dan,  approaching 
behind  her,  put  the  small  end  of  the  tube  into  her 
right  ear — which  was  the  best  one — and  Elspie, 
putting  her  mouth  to  the  other  end,  spoke  to  her 
in  her  soft,  natural  voice. 

The  effect  was  amusing.  Old  Peg  dropped  into 
her  chair  as  if  paralysed,  and  gazod  from  one  to 
another  in  mute  amazement. 

"Eh!  dearie.  Did  I  ever  think  to  hear  the 
sweet  low  voice  o*  Elspie  like  as  it  was  when  she 
was  a  bairn !  Most  amazin* ! "  she  said.  "  Let  me 
hear 't  again." 

The  operation  was  repeated,  and  it  was  finally 
found  that,  by  means  of  this  extemporised  ear- 
trumpet,  the  poor  creature  once  more  became  a 
conversable  member  of  society.  She  went  about  the 
house  the  remainder  of  that  day  in  a  quite  excited 
state,  asking  questions  of  everybody,  and  putting 


E 


OF  THE  IlED  KIVER  PLAINS. 


3G9 


perform  an 

ie  shouting 
ig  into  her 

th   £   faint 
iss.     But  I 


,se." 

ie  to  Little 

pproaching 
be  into  her 
nd  Elspie, 
oka  to  her 

)pped  into 
Dm  one  to 

hear  the 

when  she 

"Let  me 

'as  finally 
rised  ear- 
became  a 
about  the 
be  excited 
d  putting 


the  end  of  the  instrument  to  their  mouths  for  an 
answer.  Archie  even  declared  that  he  had  caught 
her  alone  in  the  back-kitchen  shoving  the  cat's  head 
into  the  mouthpiece  of  the  instrument  and  pinching 
its  tail  to  make  it  new. 

It  was  two  days  after  the  occurrence  of  these 
incidents  that  the  old  woman  was  seated  by 
Duncan's  bedside,  gazing  through  her  tortoise-shell 
glasses  at  the  well-thumbed  Bible,  when  her  patient, 
who  had  been  very  restless,  looked  up  and  spoke. 

"  Can  I  do  anything  for  ye,  dearie  ? "  said  Old  Peg, 
putting  the  trumpet-end  into  her  ear,  and  handing 
the  mouthpiece  to  Duncan. 

"  You — you  hear  much  better  now,  Old  Peg  ? " 
said  «he  sick  man,  in  his  natural  voice. 

"  Ay,  much,  much  better ;  thanks  to  the  Lord — 
and  to  Mr.  Daniel." 

"  If  Daniel  had  not  thought  of  it,"  said  the  in- 
valid, quite  gravely,  "  do  you  think  that  the  Lord 
would  hev  sent  the  machine  to  you  1 " 

"  He  might  or  He  might  not,"  returned  the  old 
woman,  promptly.  "  It 's  not  for  me  to  say,  nor  yet 
to  guesf  on  that  point.  But  this  I  do  know  for 
certain — if  the  Lord  hadna'  thought  upon  Mr.  Daniel, 
then  Mr.  Daniel  wouldna'  have  been  here  to  think 
upon  me." 

Duncan  made  no  reply,  and  for  some  time  re- 
mained quite  silent.     Then  he  spoke  again. 

"  Peg,  what  wass  it  that  you  would  be  reading  to 

2  A 


Ill 


vmb . 


'I 


4 

.Ml 
-I 


370 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


me  last  night — something  about  a  malefactor,  I  'm 
thinking." 

"  Ay,  it  was  about  the  robbers  that  was  crucified 
on  each  side  o'  the  Lord.  One  o'  them  reviled  the 
Lord  as  he  was  hangin'  there,  the  other  found  for- 
giveness, for  he  was  led  to  see  what  a  lost  sinner  he 
was,  and  repented  and  confessed  his  sins." 

"  That  is  fery  strange,"  said  Duncan,  after  a  few 
moments'  thought.  "Do  you  think.  Peg,  that  the 
robber  that  was  forgiven  wass  a — a  murderer  ? " 

"  I  have  little  doubt  o't,"  answered  Peg,  "  for  I  'vc 
heard  say  that  they  think  very  little  o'  human  life 
in  them  Eastern  countries.  But  whatever  he  was, 
the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  was  able  to  cleanse  him." 

"  Ay,  but  if  he  was  a  murderer,  Peg,  he  did  not 
deserve  to  be  foigiven." 

"  My  bairn,"  said  the  old  woman,  with  something 
of  motherly  tenderness  in  her  tone,  "  it 's  not  them 
that  deserve  to  be  forgiven  that  are  forgiven,  but 
them  that  see  that  they  doii't  deserve  it.  Didna' 
thi;-  robber  say  that  he  was  sufierin'  for  his  sins 
justly  ?  That,  surely,  meant  that  he  deserved  what 
he  was  getti^ig,  an'  how  is  it  possible  to  deserve  both 
condemnation  an'  forgiveness  at  the  same  time? 
But  he  believed  that  Jesus  was  a  king — able  and 
willing  to  save  him  though  he  did  Twt  deserve  it,  so 
he  asked  to  be  remembered,  and  he  was  remembered. 
But  lie  down  now,  bairn,  an'  rest.  Ye  are  excitin' 
ycursel',  an'  that 's  bad  for  ye." 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


371 


A  week  or  so  after  the  conversation  above  re- 
corded, Dan  brought  a  wheel  chair  for  Duncan, 
similar  to  the  one  he  had  made  for  his  father.  As 
Duncan  had  been  getting  out  of  bed  for  several 
days  before,  Dan  found  him  dressed  and  sitting 
up.  He  therefore  lifted  him  into  the  chair  at  once, 
and  wheeled  him  out  into  the  garden,  where  a  blai^e 
of  warm  sunshine  seemed  to  put  nev/  life  into  the 
poor  invalid. 

It  had  been  pre-arranged  that  old  M'Kay  should 
be  brought  down  that  same  day  to  his  new  room, 
and  that  he  should  also  be  wheeled  into  the  garden, 
so  as  to  meet  his  son  Duncan,  without  either  of 
them  being  prepared  for  the  meeting. 

"  I  don't  feel  at  all  sure  that  we  are  right  in  this 
arrangement,"  Elspie  had  said ;  but  Dan  and  Fergus, 
and  Mrs.  Davidson  and  Jessie  had  thought  other- 
wise, so  she  was  overruled. 

Archie  was  deputed  to  attend  upon  Duncan 
junior,  and  Little  Bill  obtained  leave  to  push  the 
chair  of  old  M'Kay.  The  younger  man  was  wheeled 
under  the  shade  of  a  tree  with  his  back  to  the  house, 
and  left  there.  Then  the  family  retired  out  of  the 
way,  leaving  Archie  to  attend  the  invalid. 

A  few  minutes  after  young  Duncan  had  been 
placed.  Little  Bill  pushed  his  charge  under  the 
same  tree,  and,  wheeling  the  chair  quickly  round, 
brought  father  and  son  suddenly  face  to  face. 

The  surprise  was  great  on  both  sides,  for  each, 


372 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  .  A  TALE 


i'l 


i'! 


4 


recollecting  only  the  man  that  Tiad  been,  could 
hardly  believe  in  the  reality  of  the  ghost  that  sat 
before  him. 

"  Father ! "  exclaimed  Duncan  at  last. 

But  the  old  man  answered  not.  Some  strong 
feeling  was  evidently  surging  within  him,  for  his 
mouth  was  tightly  pursed  and  his  features  worked 
strangely.  Suddenly  he  burst  into  tears,  but  the 
weakness  was  momentary.  With  an  effort  that 
seemed  to  concentrate  the  accumulated  energy  of 
all  the  M'Kays  from  Adam  downwards,  he  again 
pursed  his  mouth  and  looked  at  his  younger  son 
with  a  stern  persistent  frown,  worthy  of  the  most 
rugged  of  Highlanders  in  his  fiercest  mood. 

Duncan  was  inexpressibly  touched. 

"  Father,"  said  he  again,  "  I  Ve  been  a  baad,  baad 
son  to  you." 

"  Tuncan,"  retorted  the  old  man,  in  a  husky  but 
firm  voice,  "  I  've  been  a  baad,  baad  father  to  you." 

"  Let  us  shake  hands — whatever,"  said  the  son. 

The  two  silently  grasped  each  other's  hands  with 
all  the  little  strength  that  remained  to  them.  Then 
old  M'Kay  turned  suddenly  to  his  henchman. 

"  Little  Bill,"  said  he,  in  a  tone  that  was  not  for 
an  instant  to  be  disregarded,  "shove  me  down  to 
the  f utt  of  the  garden — you  rascal ! " 

With  a  promptitude  little  short  of  miraculous 
the  Highlander  was  wheeled  away,  and  thus  the 
momentous  meeting  was  abruptly  brought  to  a  close. 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


373 


CHAPTER   XXXIII. 


MATRIMONIAL  PLANS  AND  PROSFECTS. 


Time  passed  by,  as  time  is  rather  apt  to  do,  and 
still  the  feud  between  the  rival  fur  companies  con- 
tinued, to  the  detriment  of  the  Indians  and  the  fur 
trade,  the  unsettling  of  Eed  Eiver  Settlement,  and 
the  demoralisation  more  or  less  of  all  concerned. 

Men  who  would  gladly  have  devoted  all  their 
energies  to  the  arts  of  peace,  became  more  or  less 
belligerent  in  spirit,  if  not  in  act,  and  many  were 
forced  to  take  sides  in  the  controversy — some  siding 
with  the  Nor'-Westers  and  others  with  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company. 

With  the  merits  of  their  contentions  we  do  not 
propose  to  meddle.     We  confine  ourselves  to  facts. 

One  important  fact  was  that  our  hero  Daniel 
Davidson  took  the  side  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Com- 
pany. Being  a  stout  fellow,  with  a  good  brain,  a 
strong  will,  an  independent  spirit,  and  a  capable 
tongue,  he  was  highly  appreciated  by  the  one  side 
and  considerably  hated  by  the  other,  insomuch  that 
some  of  the  violent  spirits  made  dark  suggestions  as 


374 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


I  !! 


■■■« 


to  the  propriety  of  putting  him  out  of  the  way.  It 
is  not  easy,  however,  or  safe,  to  attempt  to  put  a 
strong,  resolute  man  out  of  the  way,  and  his  enemies 
plotted  for  a  considerable  time  in  vain. 

The  unsettled  state  of  the  colony,  and  the  frequent 
failure  of  the  crops  had,  as  we  have  seen,  exerted  an 
evil  influence  for  a  long  time  on  poor  Dan's  matri- 
monial prospects,  and  at  last,  feeling  that  more 
settled  times  might  yet  be  in  the  remote  future,  and 
that,  as  regarded  defence  and  maintenance,  it  would 
be  on  the  whole  better  both  for  Elspie  and  himself 
that  they  should  get  married  without  delay,  he 
resolved  to  take  the  important  step,  and,  as  old 
M'Kay  remarked,  have  it  over. 

"  You  see,  Taniel,"  said  the  old  man,  when  the 
subject  was  again  broached,  "  it  iss  of  no  use  hangin' 
off  an'  on  in  this  fashion.  Moreover,  this  nasty  stiff 
leg  o'  mine  is  so  long  of  getting  well  that  it  may 
walk  me  off  the  face  o'  the  earth  altogether,  an'  I 
would  not  like  to  leave  Elspie  till  this  matter  iss 
settled.  Tuncan  also  iss  a  little  better  just  now,  so 
what  say  you  to  have  the  weddin'  the  month  after 
next  ?  Mr.  Sutherland  will  be  back  from  the 
Whitehorse  Plains  by  then,  an'  he  can  tie  the  knot 
tight  enough — whatever.  Anyway,  it  iss  clear  that 
if  we  wait  for  a  munister  o'  the  Auld  Kirk,  we  will 
hev  to  wait  till  doomsday.    What  say  you,  Taniel?" 

It  need  hardly  be  said  that  Dan  had  nothing 
whatever  to  say  in  objection  to  this  scheme.     It  was 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


375 


therefore  settled — under  the  proviso,  of  course,  that 
Elspie  had  no  objection.  Dan  went  off  at  once  to 
see  Elspie,  and  found  that  she  had  no  objection, 
whereupon,  after  some  conversation,  etc.,  with  which 
we  will  not  weary  the  reader,  he  sought  out  his 
friend  Fred  Jenkins,  to  whom  he  communicated 
the  good  news,  and  treated  him  to  a  good  many 
unanswerable  reasons  why  young  people  should  not 
delay  marriage  when  there  was  any  reasonable 
prospect  of  their  getting  on  comfortably  in  life 
together. 

The  sailor  agreed  with  effusive  heartiness  to  all 
that  he  said,  and  Dan  thought  while  he  was  speaking 
— orating — as  one  of  the  American  settlers  would 
have  expressed  it — that  Jenkins  wore  a  peculiar 
expression  on  his  manly  countenance.  Attributing 
it  to  unusual  interest  in  the  event,  he  continued — 

"  Now,  Fred,  I  want  you  to  be  my  best-man " 

"Unpossible — quite  unpossible,"  interrupted  the 
seaman  with  a  grave  shake  of  the  head. 
"  How — impossible ! " 
"  Ab — so — lutely  unpossible." 
"  But  why  ?     Explain  yourself,  Fred." 
*'  'Cause  it's  only  a  bachelor  as  can  be  a  best-man 
to  a  bachelor — ain't  it  ? " 

"  I  believe  so,  though  I  'm  no  authority  in  such 
matters;  but  surely  that  is  a  matter  of  no  import- 
ance, for  you  are  a  bachelor,  you  know." 

"  True,  that 's  what  I  am  to-day,  but  I  won't  be 


376 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


u 

ll 
It 


S'. 


4      si 


.1 

'4 


that  long,  for  I  am  goiu'  to  be  married  next  month, 
so  I  won't  be  available,  d'ee  see,  the  month  after." 

"  You — married ! — to  whom  ? "  exclaimed  Dan  in 
amazement. 

"  Well,  that 's  a  point  blank  shot  right  between 
wind  an'  water.  Hows'ever,  I  suppose  I  can't  go 
wrong  in  tellin*  you,  Dan,  for  it 's  all  settled,  though 
not  a  soul  knows  about  it  except  Little  Bill,  an' 
yourself,  an'  her  brother." 

"  But  I  don't  know  about  it  yet,"  returned  Dan. 
"  Who  is  it  ? " 

"A  angel — pure  an*  unmixed — come  straight 
down  from  heaven  apurpus  to  marry  poor,  unedi- 
cated,  sea-farin'  Fred  Jenkins,  an'  her  terrestrial 
name  is  Elise  Morel ! " 

Dan  laughed  while  he  congratulated  the  modest 
seaman,  and  admitted  the  strength  of  his  difficulty. 

"  D'  you  know,  Fred,  I  've  had  a  suspicion  for  some 
time  past  that  you  had  a  leaning  in  tha^  direction  'i " 

"  So  have  I,  Dan ;  had  an  uncommon  strong  sus- 
picion for  a  very  long  time  past,  not  only  that  I  had 
a  leanin'  that  way,  but  a  regular  list  to  port,  an'  now 
I  *m  fairly  over  on  my  beam-ends ! " 

"  But,  surely,  it  must  have  come  upon  you  very 
sudden  at  last,"  said  Dan.    "  How  was  it  ?  " 

"  Sudden  !  I  should  just  think  it  did — like  a  white 
squall  in  the  Mediterranean,  or  a  hurricane  in  the 
China  seas.  This  is  how  it  was.  I  'd  bin  cruisin' 
about  her— off  an'  on-  -for  a  considerable  time,  tryin' 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


377 


to  make  up  my  mind  to  go  into  action,  an*  screwin' 
ray  courage  up  to  the  stickin'  pint  by  recallin*  all 
the  fine  sentiments  that  has  carried  Jack-tars 
through  fire  an'  smoke,  shot  and  shell  since  the 
world  began — 'England  expects  every  man  to  do 
his  dooty' — 'Never  say  die' — 'Hookey  Bunkum,' 
an'  such  like.  But  it  warn't  no  manner  o'  use,  for 
I  *.ii  an'  outrageous  coward  wi'  the  gals,  Dan.  So, 
in  a  sort  o'  despair,  I  sailed  away  this  very  mornin' 
into  the  plantation  at  the  futt  o'  your  garden,  in- 
tendin'  to  cool  myself  an'  think  over  it,  when,  who 
should  I  see  almost  hull  down  on  my  lee  bow  but 
the  enemy — Elise  herself ! 

"  Well,  I  changed  my  course  at  once ;  bore  straight 
down  on  her,  an'  soon  overhauled  her,  but  the  nearer 
I  came  the  more  did  my  courage  run  out,  so  I  gra- 
dooally  begun  to  take  in  sail  an  drop  astarn.  At 
last  I  got  savage,  *  You  're  a  fool,  Jenkins  ! '  says  I  to 
myself.     '  That's  a  fact ! '  says  su'thin'  inside  o*  me. 

''  Now,  if  that  su'thin'  had  kep'  quiet,  I  do  be- 
lieve that  I  'd  have  gone  about-ship  an'  showed  her 
my  heels,  but  that  su'thin',  whatever  it  was,  set  up 
my  dander.  'Now  then,'  says  I,  'haul  taut  the 
main  brace!  Up  wi'  the  t'  gall'n'-s'ls  an*  sky- 
scrapers !    "  England  expects," '  etceterer ! 

"  Afore  you  could  say  Jack  Kobinson,  I  was  along- 
side— grapplin'-irons  hove  into  her  riggin',  and  a 
broadside  fired.  The  way  I  gave  it  her  astonished 
even  myself.     Nelson  himself  could  scarce  ha'  done 


1 1 

li 


378 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


4 

■m 


it  better !  Well,  she  struck  her  colours  at  the  first 
broadside,  an*  somehow — I  never  could  make  out 
exactly  how — we  was  sittin'  on  the  stump  of  a  tree 
with  her  head  on  my  rough  unworthy  buzzum. 
Think  o'  that !  Dan,  her  head — the  head  of  a  Angel ! 
Give  us  your  flipper,  mate." 

"  I  congratulate  you,  Jenkins,  with  all  my  heart," 
said  Dan,  grasping  the  seaman's  "flipper,"  and  giving 
it  a  hearty  shake.  "  So  now,  I  must  look  out  for 
another  best-man.  Morel  will  do  for  me,  I  think, 
and  you  can  have  my  brother  Peter,  no  doubt.  But 
could  we  not  manage  to  have  both  weddings  on  the 
same  day  ? " 

"  Unpossible,"  answered  the  seaman,  promptly. 
"  Couldn't  wait." 

"  But  we  might  compromise  the  matter.  I  might 
have  mine  a  little  sooner  and  you  could*  have 
yours  a  little  later." 

Still  Jenkins  shook  his  head.  "  Not  fair-play,"  he 
said.  "  All  the  advantage  on  your  side.  However,  we 
might  consider  it.  Hold  a  sort  o'  drum-head  court- 
martial  over  it,  with  Elise  and  Elspie  as  judges." 

When  the  said  court-marital — as  Dan  called  it 
— was  held,  the  compromise  was  agreed  to,  and  it 
was  finally  fixed  that  six  weeks  thereafter  the  two 
couples  should  be  united  in  Ben  Nevis  Hall. 

But  the  current  of  these  parallel  streams  of  true 
love  was  not  yet  destined  to  run  smooth — as  the 
next  chapter  will  show. 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


379 


;  the  first 

make  out 

of  a  tree 

buzzum. 

a  Angel ! 

ly  heart," 
nd  giving 
k  out  for 
,  I  think, 
iibt.  But 
gs  on  the 

promptly. 

I  might 
lid-  have 

-play,"  he 
vever,  we 
ad  court- 
ages." 
called  it 
0,  and  it 
the  two 
I. 

(  of  true 
—as  the 


CHAPTER    XXXIV. 

A  NEW  DISASTER. 

"I  MEAN  to  go  off  to-morrow  on  a  shooting 
trip  to  the  lake,"  said  Dan  Davidson  to  Archie 
Sinclair.  "  I  've  had  a  long  spell  at  farming  opera- 
tions of  late,  and  am  tired  of  it.  The  double 
wedding,  you  know,  comes  off  in  six  weeks.  So  I 
want  to  have  one  more  run  in  the  wilderness  in  all 
the  freedom  of  bachelorhood.  Will  you  go  with 
me  ? " 

"  *  Unpossible,'  as  Jenkins  would  say,"  answered 
Archie.  "Nothing  would  please  me  better,  but, 
duty  before  pleasure !  I  've  promised  to  spend  a 
week  along  wi'  Little  Bill  at  the  Whitehorse  Plains. 
Billie  has  taken  a  great  fancy  to  that  chief  o'  the 
halfbreeds,  Cuthbert  Grant,  and  we  are  goin'  to 
visit  him.  I  Ve  no  doubt  that  Little  Bill  would  let 
me  off,  but  I  won't  be  let  off." 

"Then  I  must  ask  Ok^matau  to  go  with  me," 
said  Dan. 

"  You  needn't  trouble  yourself,  for  I  heard  him 
say  that  he  was  goin'  off  to  see  some  o'  his  relations 


380 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


''  I 


I 


m 


on  important  business — a  great  palaver  o'  some  sort 
— and  Elise  told  me  this  morning  that  she  saw  him 
start  yesterday." 

"  H'm !  Morel  is  too  busy  with  his  new  farm  to 
go,"  rejoined  Dan,  "  and  Jenkins  is  too  busy  helping 
Morel.  Perhaps  Dechamp  or  Bourassin  may  be 
more  at  leisure.     I  will  go  see." 

But  on  search  being  made,  neither  Dechamp  nor 
Bourassin  was  to  be  found,  and  our  hero  was  re- 
turning home  with  the  intention  of  taking  a  small 
hunting  canoe  and  going  off  by  himself,  when  he 
chanced  to  meet  with  La  Certe. 

That  worthy  seemed  unusually  depressed,  and 
returned  Dan's  greeting  with  very  little  of  his 
habitual  cheerfulness. 

"  What 's  wrong  with  you,  Franqois  ? "  asked  Dan, 
anxiously. 

"Domestic  infelicity,"  answered  La  Certe,  with 
a  sorrowful  shake  of  the  head. 

"  What !  surely  Slowfoot  has  not  taken  to  being 
unkind  to  you  ? " 

"  0  no !  Slowfoot  could  not  be  unkind,  but  she 
is  unhappy;  she  has  lost  her  cheerful  looks;  she 
does  not  take  everything  as  she  once  did ;  she  does 
not  now  let  everything  go  anyhow  with  that  cheer- 
ful resignation  which  was  once  her  delightful 
characteristic.  She  no  longer  hands  the  pipe  of 
peace  to  our  little  one — indeed  she  refuses  to  let  it 
have  the  pipe  at  all,  though  the  poor  child  cries  for 


OF  THE  UED  lUVEU  PLAINS. 


381 


it,  and  comes  to  me  secretly,  when  Slowfoot  is  out 
of  the  way,  to  beg  for  a  draw.  Then,  she  scolds 
me — no,  she  does  not  scold.  Slowfoot  cannot  scold. 
She  is  too  amiable — but  she  remonstrates,  and  that 
is  worse  than  scolding,  for  it  enlists  myself  against 
myself.  0!  I  am  now  miserable.  My  days  of 
peace  are  gone ! " 

"  This  is  all  very  sad,  La  Certe,"  said  Dan,  in  a 
tone  of  sympathy.  "What  does  she  remonstrate 
about  ? " 

"  About  my  laziness !  She  does  it  very  kindly, 
very  gently — so  like  her  old  self ! — but  she  does  it. 
She  says,  *  Husband,  v/e  have  gone  on  this  way  too 
long.  We  must  change.  You  must  change.  You 
are  lazy  ! ' " 

"Well,  La  Certe,"  said  Dan,  "I'm  afraid  that 
Slowfoot  is  right." 

"I  know  she  is  right!"  retorted  the  halfbreed, 
with  more  of  exasperation  in  his  manner  than  his 
friend  had  ever  before  seen  in  Lim.  "When  that 
which  is  said  of  one  is  false,  one  can  afford  to  smile, 
but  when  it  is  true  what  can  one  say  ?  Yet  it  is 
hard — very  hard.  You  are  full  of  energy;  you 
love  to  expend  it,  and  you  search  for  work.  It  is 
natural — and  what  is  natural  must  be  right.  So, 
I  am  full  of  laziness.  I  love  to  indulge  it,  and  I 
search  for  repose.  That  is  also  natural,  and  what 
is  natural  must  be  right.    Voil^  ! " 

"  Then  I  suppose  your  love  for  repose,"  returned 


382 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


4 

.m 
'ft 


i:r  '-i 


'i'li 

'  i'! 


!  I 


!!!!  I 


S!! 


I  I 


ij 


i'i!    ' 


I  i 


!i 


Dan,  "  will  oblige  you  to  decline  an  offer  which  I 
thought  of  making  to  you." 

«  What  is  that  ?  " 

"  To  go  with  me  on  a  shooting  expedition  to  Lake 
Winnipeg  for  a  week  or  two." 

"0  no!  I  will  not  decline  that/'  returned  La 
Certe,  brightening  up.  "  Shooting  is  not  labour.  It 
is  amusement,  with  labour  sufficient  to  make  after- 
repose  delightful.  And  I  will  be  glad  to  leave  my 
home  for  a  time,  for  it  is  no  longer  the  abode  of 
felicity." 

This  having  been  satisfactorily  arranged,  prepara- 
tions made,  and  Slowfoot  advised  of  her  husband's 
intention,  Dan  went  to  Ben  Nevis  Hall  next  morn- 
ing to  bid  farewell  to  Elspie  for  a  brief  period. 
He  found  only  old  M'Kay  in  the  Hall,  Elspie  having 
gone  up  the  Settlement,  or  down  the  Settlement — 
the  man  did  not  know  which— to  call  on  a  friend. 

"See  that  ye  will  not  be  long  o*  comin'  back, 
Tan,"  he  said.  "  There  will  be  a  good  many  arranch- 
ments  to  make,  you  see." 

"  I  hope  to  be  back  in  three  weeks  at  latest,"  said 
Dan,  "  if  all  goes  well." 

"Ay,  if  all  goes  well,"  repeated  the  old  man, 
thoughtfully.  "  As  Elspie  says  sometimes,  *  We 
never  know  what  a  day  may  bring  furth.'  Well, 
well,  see  that  you  will  not  be  upsetting  your  canoe, 
for  canoes  are  cranky  things — whatever." 

In  a  short  time  our  hero  and  La  Certe  found 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


383 


themselves  floating  once  more  on  the  calm  breast 
of  the  mighty  inland  sea. 

It  was  afternoon.  The  circumstances  were  emi- 
nently conducive  to  the  felicity  which  is  derivable 
from  repose,  and  thus  admirably  suited  to  the  tastes 
of  La  Certe.  An  unruffled  sheet  of  glassy  water 
lay  spread  out  to  the  north-western  horizon,  which 
not  only  doubled  the  canoe  and  its  occupants,  but 
reflected  the  golden  glory  of  the  sun,  and  mirrored 
every  fleecy  cloudlet  in  the  bright  blue  sky.  A 
mere  dip  of  the  paddles  now  and  then  served  to 
give  impulse  to  the  light,  and  literal,  bark.  Genial 
warmth  pervaded  the  atmosphere,  and  little  white 
gulls  floated  almost  motionless  on  outspread  wings, 
or  sloped  hither  and  thither  with  lazy  flap,  while 
ever  and  anon  the  whistling  wings  of  passing  wild- 
fowl gave  promise  of  occupation  to  their  guns,  to 
say  nothing  of  their  kettles. 

On  their  third  day  out,  towards  evening,  they 
went  ashore  on  the  lee-side  of  a  rocky  point  where 
some  bushes  and  trees  seemed  to  offer  firewood  and 
shelter. 

"  This  will  do,"  said  Dan,  as  he  stepped  lightly 
out  on  a  shelving  rock  and  held  the  canoe  while  his 
companion  took  out  the  lading.  "  Plenty  dry  sticks 
and  lots  of  moss  for  bedding." 

"  Truly,  that  is  so,"  returned  La  Certe.  "  It  is  a 
place  in  which  Slowfoot  would  rejoice  to  repose,  and 
the  little  one  to  smoke  its  pipe." 


384 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


4 


"You  forget,"  said  Dan.  "The  little  one  is  no 
longer  allowed  that  luxury." 

"  No,  I  forgot  not.  But  I  reflect  that  it  is  possible 
to  give  her  many  a  draw  on  the  sly." 

The  fire  was  soon  kindled,  ducks  were  roasting  in 
front  of  it,  and  the  kettle  boiling  above  it.  The 
tea  had  been  infused,  and  La  Certe,  while  filling  his 
pipe,  was  blinking  goodwill  at  all  around,  when  the 
uotes  of  a  voyageur-song  were  heard  like  an  echo  in 
the  far  distance. 

Gradually  the  song  grew  louder,  and  soon  a  canoe 
rounded  the  point,  and  came  in  sight  of  the  camp- 
fire.  It  was  what  used  to  be  called  a  north-canoe, 
of  the  largest  size,  made  of  birch-bark,  and  con- 
tained a  crew  of  ten  men. 

The  song  and  the  paddling  stopped  simultaneously 
when  the  camp  was  observed,  and  the  men  appeared 
to  hold  a  consultation.  Their  hesitation,  however, 
was  very  brief.  Suddenly,  breaking  again  into  song, 
they  ran  the  canoe  to  shore,  and  landed. 

"  We  are  bound  for  Eed  River,"  said  their  chief 
to  Dan.  "Just  come  from  Canada.  We  suppose 
you  don't  object  to  our  camping  beside  you.  It 
is  a  convenient  spot." 

Of  course  the  two  hunters  had  no  objection 
whatever  to  fraternise  with  the  strangers  from 
Canada,  and  in  a  short  time  another  large  fire 
was  sending  its  myriad  sparks  up  into  the  darken- 
ing sky  like  a  gigantic  roman-candle. 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


385 


one  IS  no 


During  supper  the  strangers  made  themselves 
very  agreeable.  After  supper,  two  of  the  stoutest 
of  them  arose,  as  if  to  go  into  the  bush  for  more 
firewood.  Suddenly  these  threw  themselves  upon 
and  seized  Dan  and  his  comrade,  who  were  reclining 
quietly  on  the  grou  id.  Before  either  could  make 
even  an  attempt  at  self-defence  they  were  over- 
powered by  the  Canadians,  and  held  forcibly  down, 
while  their  arms  were  securely  bound  to  their  sides 
with  strips  of  deerskin. 

"It  is  useless  to  struggle,  Dan  Davidson,"  said 
the  chief,  when  this  was  being  accomplished.  "  We 
know  you  as  a  bitter  opponent  of  the  Nor'-westers, 
and  we  intend  to  carry  you  where  your  power  to  do 
mischief  will  be  ended." 

"  Who  are  you  ^  and  under  whose  authority  do 
you  act  ? "  demanded  Dan,  angrily. 

"Who  I  am  is  a  matter  of  no  interest  to  you, 
Dan.  I  act  under  my  own  authority,  and  I  may 
just  as  well  tell  you,  at  the  beginning,  that  if  you 
and  your  comrade  choose  to  submit  peaceably,  we 
will  treat  you  reasonably  well ; — if  not,  we  will  find 
means  to  quiet  you,  even  though  we  should  be 
driven  to  do  it  wi'  that." 

The  man  pointed  significantly  to  a  gun  which 
leant  against  a  neighbouring  tree.  His  meaning 
could  not  be  misunderstood. 

That  night,  Dan  and  La  Certe  were  fastened  to  a 
tree  by  cords  which  allowed  of  their  moving  about 

2B 


386 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


>.{'■': 


4 


w 


freely  within  a  small  space,  but  their  arms  were 
not  unbound.  Here  they  were  allowed  to  make 
themselves  as  comfortable  as  possible  in  the  cir- 
cumstances. Their  bed,  being  mossy,  was  well 
enough,  but  the  distracted  state  of  their  minds — 
especially  Dan's — may  be  imagined. 

"La  Certe,"  said  Dan,  when  the  camp-fire  had 
burned  low,  and  the  stars  were  shining  on  them 
through  the  leaves,  and  all  was  still  save  an  oc- 
casional snore  from  the  Nor'- westers. 

La  Certe  groaned  in  reply. 

Poor  Dan  was  not  in  a  mood  to  comfort  him  or 
anybody  else  at  that  moment,  and  did  not  follow 
up  his  remark. 

"  La  Certe,"  he  said  again,  after  a  quarter  of  an 
hour. 

"  Well  ? " 

"  Do  you  remember  John  Bourke  ? " 

"  Yes,  yes.  I  remember  him,  but  I  care  not  for 
him.    My  own  sorrows  are  too  great." 

"Do  you  recoPect,"  continued  Dan,  regardless 
of  this  despairing  remark,  "  that  a  good  while  ago 
the  Nor'-westers  took  him  prisoner,  when  he  was 
wounded  after  a  skirmish  with  them,  and  carried 
him  to  Canada — treating  him  with  great  barbarity 
on  the  way.  There  he  was  put  in  jail,  but,  as 
nothing  could  be  proved  against  him,  he  was 
libbiated,  and  then  tried  to  return  to  his  family 
in  Red   River,  but  the  Nor'-westers   caught  him 


OF  THiJ  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


387 


rms  were 

to  make 

L  the  cir- 

was  well 

minds — 

)-fire  had 

on  them 

ire  an  oc- 


rt  him  or 
Lot  follow 

ter  of  an 


e  not  for 

'egardless 
vhile  ago 
1  he  was 
d  carried 
barbarity 
,  but,  as 
he  was 
s  family 
ght  him 


again,  imprisoned  him,  sent  him  a  second  time  to 
Canada,  and  had  him  tried  at  the  Court  of  the 
King's  Bench,  although  his  only  crime  was  that  of 
resisting  the  North-West  Company.  He  was  ac- 
quitted, and,  after  terrible  sufferings  from  which  he 
never  quite  recovered  and  a  three  years'  absence, 
he  rejoined  his  family  in  Eed  River." 

"  Yes,  0  yes !     I  know  it  all,"  groaned  La  Certe. 

"  Well,"  continued  Dan,  bitterly,  "  his  fate  is  not 
unlikely  to  be  ours." 

The  poor  halfbreed  made  no  reply  to  ^his.  For 
some  time  he  lay  quite  still,  and  his  comrade  had 
almost  fallen  into  an  uneasy  slumber,  when  he  was 
awakened  by  La  Certe  breaking  out  into  a  soliloquy 
in  which  he  apostrophised  his  absent  wife. 

"  0  my  Slowfoot!"  he  murmured.  "  Shall  we  never 
meet  again  on  earth  ?  Yes,  you  are  right.  I  have 
been  lazy !  I  am  lazy.  I  suppose  that  this  is  punish- 
ment for  my  sin.  But  it  is  hard  to  bear,  and  very 
heavy — is  it  not  ? — for  only  following  one's  nature 
in  longing  for  repose.  0  !  why  was  I  born  ?  Why 
was  our  little  one  born,  to  enjoy  for  so  brief  a  time 
the  delights  of  smoke,  and  then  have  it  denied  her — 
except  on  the  sly,  when  with  her  miserable  father, 
who  will  never  see  her  more — per-haps." 

He  paused  for  a  few  minutes,  and  then  broke  out 
again. 

"  Yes,  my  Slowfoot — you  are  right.  I  must  re- 
form.   I  will  cast  off  my  sloth  as  a  garment — even 


388 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


1 


'4 


§ 

(I 


! 


"'Hi 


Hi 


i 


— even  though  I  should  go  naked  all  the  rest  of  my 
days !     I  will  work — energise !     I  will " 

"Hold  your  tongue,  La  Certe,  and  listen,"  said 
Dan  in  a  low,  stern  voice. 

"  I  am  all  attention,"  returned  the  poor  man  in  a 
similarly  low  tone. 

"  Are  you  game  to  fight,  if  you  get  the  chance  ? " 

"  Game  to  fight !"  echoed  the  other — "  to  fight  for 
my  Slowfoot,  my  little  one,  my  smoke,  and  my  re- 
po — I  mean  my — my — new " 

"Speak  lower,  man,  and  listen  to  a  plan  I  have 
in  my  head." 

Here  Dan  spoke  so  low  that  he  could  not  be 
heard  at  all,  save  only  by  his  companion  ;  but  that 
is  of  little  consequence,  for  the  plan,  whatever  it 
might  have  been,  was  never  carried  out. 

Next  day  the  Nor'-west  party  with  their  two 
prisoners  paddled  away  towards  the  mouth  of  the 
grand  turbulent  Winnipeg  Eiver,  and  began  to 
traverse  the  weary  wilderness-route  of  rivers  and 
lakes,  which  at  that  time  formed  the  only  direct 
means  of  communication  between  the  frontiers  of 
Canada  and  "  Eupert's  Land." 


^^^^HB 

! 

i 
1 

j 

.1 
I 

!  i 

mm 

1  !i  ' 

i, 

1  wj. 

■ 

L. 

OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


389 


nan  in  a 


CHAPTEli   XXXV. 


TUB  LAST. 


Eagerly,  earnestly,  doggedly,  did  Daniel  David- 
son and  Francois  La  Certe  watch  for  a  favourable 
opportunity  to  escape  from  their  captors,  but  they 
waited  and  watched  in  vain,  for  their  captors  were 
cruel,  suspected  them  of  the  intention  to  escape, 
and  were  consequently  careful  to  prevent  even  an 
attempt  being  made.  They  never  freed  their  wrists 
from  strong  cords ;  kept  knives  and  axes  out  of 
their  way ;  tethered  them  to  a  tree  each  night,  and 
watched  them  continually. 

Can  it  be  wondered  at  that,  in  the  circumstances, 
our  unfortunate  hero  became  almost  insane  ?  The 
wedding-day  had  been  fixed  before  he  left  Eed 
Eiver ;  preparations  were  being  made  for  the  great 
event,  and  it  was  pretty  well  understood  that  Dan 
bad  gone  off  hunting  with  the  view,  chiefly,  to  be 
out  of  people's  way  till  the  day  should  arrive. 
They  would  scarcely  begin  to  notice  his  prolonged 
absence  till  the  day  approached.  Then,  no  doubt, 
when  too  late,  and  he  should  be  far  on  the  way  to 


390 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS :  A  TALE 


4 


K 


'4 


ill 


5 


II ! 


Mil 


4P 


m 


ii'i" 


Canada,  they  would  in  some  alarm  send  out  parties 
to  search  for  him. 

Dan  became  desperate,  but  he  was  gifted  with  an 
unusual  power  of  self-control,  so  that,  beyond  a  very 
stern  expression,  his  countenance  betrayed  no  sign 
of  the  terrible  conflict  that  was  raging  within — a 
conflict  in  which  mortal  hatred  of  mankind  in 
general  and  an  overwhelming  desire  to  kill  or  be 
killed  formed  elements.  Ah !  reader,  poor  human 
beings  have  many  and  many  a  time  in  the  past 
been  brought  to  this  terrible  condition.  God  grant 
that  we  and  ours  may  never  know  what  it  is  to 
tremble  on  the  brink  of  madness  because  of  the 
combined  influence  of  gross  injustice  and  horrible 
cruelty.  To  do  the  Nor'-westers  justice,  they  were 
unaware  of  the  intensity  of  the  pain  they  were 
inflicting.  They  had  only  captured  a  powerful 
enemy,  and  meant,  by  keeping  a  tight  hold  of 
him,  to  render  him  powerless  in  the  future — that 
was  all ! 

As  for  La  Certe,  they  had  no  intention  of  taking 
him  to  Canada.  They  only  meant  to  carry  him  so 
far  on  the  road,  that,  when  set  free,  it  would  be 
impossible  for  him  to  get  back  to  the  colony  in 
time  to  give  effective  warning  to  Dan's  friends. 

One  afternoon  the  voyagers  put  ashore  at  one  of 
the  numerous  portages  which  obstruct  the  naviga- 
tion of  that  route  to  Canada,  and,  after  unloading 
the  canoe  and  lifting  her  out  of  the  water,  they  pro 


i\\ 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


391 


t  parties 

with  an 
d  a  very 

no  sign 
itliin — a 
kind  in 
11  or  be 

human 
.he  past 
3d  grant 
it  is  to 
!  of  the 
horrible 
ey  were 
jy  were 
lowerful 
hold  of 
•e— that 

f  taking 

him  so 

3uld  be 

lony  in 

t  one  of 


naviga- 
loading 
ley  pro 


ceeded  to  carry  the  lading  across  to  the  still  water 
above  the  rapids  which  rendered  this  portage  neces- 
sary. 

Although  bound,  the  prisoners  were  by  no  aieans 
freed  from  labour.  The  cords  had  been  so  arranged 
that  they  could  use  the  paddle  while  in  the  canoe ; 
while,  on  the  portages,  although  unable  to  load  them- 
salves,  they  were  quite  able  to  carry  a  load  which 
others  placed  on  their  shoulders.  On  this  oocasion 
Dan  was  first  sent  off  with  a  load,  and  then  La 
Certe  and  some  of  the  others  followed.  When  he 
reached  the  upper  end  of  the  portage,  Dan  flung 
down  his  load,  and,  from  his  elevated  position,  gazed 
wistfully  down  the  valley  through  which  the  waters 
of  the  Winnipeg  Kiver  roared  and  seethed  among 
jagged  rocks  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach.  It  was 
a  wild  majestic  scene,  but  no  thought  of  its  gran- 
deur touched  the  mind  of  the  poor  prisoner.  He 
thought  only  of  escape.  His  intimate  knowledge, 
however,  of  the  terrific  power  of  rushing  water 
told  him  that  there  could  be  no  escape  in  that 
direction. 

"  Oh !  if  my  arms  were  only  free,  I  would  risk 
it ! "  he  murmured,  as  he  raised  his  hands  and  looked 
at  the  powerful  thongs  of  hide  with  which  they 
were  bound — thongs  which  were  always  drawn 
tighter  when  he  landed,  to  render  an  attempt  at 
escape  more  hopeless.  Then  he  glanced  at  the 
rushing  river  beside  him.      A  sheer  precipice  of 


392 


TlIK  BUFFALO  KUNNEKS :  A  TALE 


full  thirty  feet  descended  fioin  the  spot  on  which 
he  stood  to  the  edge  of  the  flood.  Just  below  there 
was  a  whirlpool,  and  beyond  that  began  the  first 
of  the  series  of  falls  and  rapids  which  were  avoided 
by  means  of  the  portage.  Half-mad  thougli  he  was, 
he  did  not  dream  of  attempting  such  a  leap  with 
bound  hands.  He  would  wait,  and  continue  to  hope 
for  a  more  favourable  opportunity,  but  the  possi- 
bility of  such  an  opportunity  was  now  growing 
very  faint  indeed,  for  even  if  he  did  escape,  and 
had  a  canoe  to  use,  it  was  by  that  time  barely  pos- 
sible to  accomplish  the  journey  in  time  for  the 
wedding-day.  But  although  the  hope  of  being  in 
time  had  pretty  well  died  out,  his  whole  heart  was 
still  concentrated  on  the  simple  desire  to  escape. 

A  rush  of  despair  came  upon  the  poor  youth  just 
then,  and  the  idea  of  ending  his  misery  by  taking 
his  own  life  occurred  to  him  for  a  fleeting  moment, 
as  he  gazed  wistfully  around  on  v/ater,  wood,  and 
sky,  and  observed  the  laden  and  toiling  men  who 
were  slowly  clambering  up  the  steep  towards  him 
— La  Certe  being  in  front. 

Just  then  an  object  among  the  grass  at  his  feet 
attracted  his  attention.  Stooping,  he  picked  it  up 
and  found  it  to  be  a  scalping-knife ! — dropped,  pro- 
bably, long  before  by  some  passing  Indians  or 
voyageurs,  for  it  was  very  rusty. 

With  a  bounding  heart  and  a  wild  rush  of  blood 
to  his  temples,  he  sprang  towards  a  tree :  stuck  the 


1  III';  t'    i 

I  Ip;;  J;  I     ! 


li:;  r 


OF  THE  UED  IllVEU  PLAINS. 


393 


point  of  the  knife  into  it ;  held  the  handle  with  his 
teeth;  sawed  the  thongs  across  its  edge  once  or 
twice — and  was  free  ! 

His  first  impulse  was  to  bound  into  the  woods, 
but  the  thought  of  his  comrade  arrested  him.  La 
Certe  was  already  close  at  hand.  Running  towards 
him  he  said,  quickly,  "  Drop  your  load !  Now  or 
never ! "  and  cut  his  bonds  at  once.  Then,  turning, 
he  sprang  towards  the  woods.  But  from  the  very 
opening  through  which  he  meant  to  plunge  into 
the  tangled  thicket,  there  issued  the  leader  of  the 
Nor'-westers  and  two  of  his  men.  The  chief  was 
armed  with  a  gun,  which  he  immediately  presented. 
With  the  instinct  of  bush-warriors  the  two  pri- 
soners dodged  behind  rocks,  and  made  for  the  higher 
ground  which  Dan  had  recently  quitted.  Here  a 
sheer  precipice  barred  further  progress.  There 
was  no  way  of  escape  but  the  river.  They  ran  to 
the  edge  and  looked  down.  La  Certe  shrank  back, 
appalled.  Dan  glanced  quickly  round  to  ste  if 
there  was  any  other  opening.  Then  there  came 
over  his  spirit  that  old,  old  resolve  which  has,  in 
the  moment  of  their  extremity,  nerved  so  many 
men  to  face  danger  and  death  from  the  days  of 
Adam  downward. 

"  Now,  La  Certe,"  he  said,  grasping  his  comrade's 
hand  :  "  Farewell !  Death  or  Freedom!  Tell  Elspie 
my  last  thoughts  were  of  her  ! " 

Almost  before  the  half  breed  could  realise  what 


394 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


I 


was  said,  Dan  had  leaped  over  the  cliff  and  disap- 
peared in  the  raging  torrent.  A  few  seconds  later 
he  was  seen  to  rise  in  the  whirlpool  below  the  first 
cataract,  and  to  buffet  the  stream  vigorously,  then  he 
disappeared  a  second  time.  Before  La  Certe  could 
make  out  whether  his  friend  rose  again,  he  was 
seized  from  behind,  and  dragged  from  the  brink  of 
the  precipice. 

Swift  as  the  hunted  stag  springs  from  his  covert, 
and  bounds  over  every  obstacle  with  speed  and 
apparent  ease,  so  sprang  the  chief  of  the  Nor'- 
westers  down  the  rugged  path  which  led  to  the  foot 
of  the  series  of  rapids  and  the  lower  end  of  the 
portage.  There  was  good  grit  in  the  man,  morally 
and  physically,  for  he  was  bent  on  a  rescue  which 
involved  considerable  danger. 

Throwing  off  his  capote,  and  tightening  his  belt, 
he  stood  on  a  ledge  just  below  the  last  fall,  intently 
watching  .he  water. 

The  fall  was  not  high,  but  it  was  deep,  and 
rushed  into  a  large  dark  basin  with  terrible  velocity, 
causing  the  tormented  foam-speckled  water  to  cir- 
culate round  its  edges.  In  a  few  moments  the 
form  of  Dan  was  seen  to  shoot  down  the  fall  and 
disappear  in  the  basin.  The  chief  stooped,  but  did 
not  spring  until,  not  far  from  him,  the  apparently  in- 
animate form  reappeared  on  the  surface  and  began 
to  circle  slowly  round  among  the  flecks  of  foam. 
Then  he  plunged,  swam  out  with  powerful  strokes, 


OF  THE  RED  RIVEIl  PLAINS. 


395 


and  quickly  returned  to  the  shore  with  Dan  in  his 
grasp. 

Soon  they  were  surrounded  by  tlic  other  voya- 
geurs,  who  had  left  La  Certe  to  look  after  himself, — 
not  caring  much,  in  the  excitement  of  the  moment, 
whether  he  escaped  or  not. 

"He  is  dead,"  said  one;  "he  breathes  not;  and 
see  how  his  face  is  bruised  and  cut." 

"And  his  chest,  too,"  said  another.  "  I  think  his 
ribs  have  been  broken.  Poor  fellow!  It  was  a 
wild,  a  reckless  jump  ! " 

"  Keep  back,  and  let  him  have  air,"  said  the  chief, 
who  was  doing  his  best,  according  to  his  knowledge, 
to  resuscitate  Dan. 

Presently  La  Certe  arrived,  panting. 

"  0 !  he  is  gone !  My  comrade,  my  friend,  is 
dead!"  he  exclaimed,  clenching  his  hands,  and  gazing 
at  the  pale,  bruised  face. 

"You  are  wrong,"  exclaimed  the  chief,  testily. 
"  Out  of  the  way,  man !    See !  his  eyelids  quiver." 

And  so  they  did ;  and  so  also  quivered  his  lips, 
and  then  a  sigh  came — faint  and  feeble — then 
stronger,  and  at  last  Dan  opened  his  eyes  and 
thanked  God  that  his  life  had  been  spared.  But 
when  he  recovered  sufficientlv  to  realise  his  true 
position  as  being  again  a  captive,  the  feeling  of 
despair  returned. 

That  night  they  encamped  a  mile  above  the 
upper  end  of  the  portage.     At  supper  the  two 


396 


THE  BUFFALO  IIUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


4 

'A 


prisoners  were  allowed  to  sit  by  the  camp-fire  and 
eat  with  their  hands  free. 

"  Monsieur,"  said  the  guide  to  Dan,  respectfully, 
"  you  see  it  is  impossible  to  escape.  Why  compel 
us  to  bind  you?  Give  me  your  word  of  honour 
that  you  will  not  try,  and  your  limbs  may  then 
remain  as  free  as  mine." 

"  I  give  you  my  word  of  honour,"  answered  Dan, 
with  a  sardonic  smile,  "that  till  after  breakfast 
to-morrow  I  will  not  try,  for  I  need  rest  and  food ; 
but  after  that,  I  give  you  my  word  that  I  will  never 
cease  to  try." 

With  this  promise  the  guide  was  fain  to  rest 
content,  and  that  night  Dan  and  his  friend  were 
allowed  to  sleep  untethered,  which  they  did  soundly. 

Next  morning  they  were  roused  in  gentler  tones 
than  usual,  and  not  required  to  work — as  had  been 
the  case  hitherto — before  breakfast.  In  short,  there 
was  an  evident  change  in  the  feelings  of  their  captors 
towards  them,  founded  largely,  no  doubt,  on  admira- 
tion of  Dan's  reckless  courage;  but  that  did  not 
induce  them  in  the  least  degree  to  relax  their  vigi- 
lance, for  the  moment  the  hour  of  truce  had  passed, 
the  chief  advanced  towards  Dan  with  the  thongs  to 
bind  him. 

For  one  moment  Dan  felt  an  impulse  to  knock 
the  man  down,  and  then  fight  the  whole  party  until 
death  should  end  the  matter ;  but  the  good-humoured 
look  on  his  jailer's  face,  the  fact  that  the  man  had 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


397 


saved  his  life  the  day  before,  and  the  certainty  of 
defeat  with  such  odds  against  him,  induced  him  to 
quell  the  evil  spirit  and  to  hold  out  his  hands. 

"Pardon,  Monsieur,"  said  the  chief,  with  the 
politeness  of  a  French  half  breed.  "I  am  sorry 
you  refuse  to  give  nie  your  parole.  I  would  rather 
see  you  like  the  rest  of  us ;  but  my  orders  are  strict, 
and  I  must  obey." 

Before  Dan  could  reply,  a  sound  struck  on  their 
ears,  which  caused  the  whole  party  to  listen,  im- 
movable and  in  perfect  silence. 

It  was  the  wild,  plaintive,  beautiful  song  of  the 
voyageur  which  had  floated  to  them  on  the  morning 
air,  softened  by  distance  to  a  mere  echo  of  sweet 
sound.  After  listening  intently  for  a  few  moments, 
the  guide  said  gently :  "  Voyageurs." 

Again  they  listened  to  the  familiar  sound,  which 
increased  in  volume  and  strength  as  it  approached, 
proving  that  the  voyageurs  were  descending  the 
river  towards  them.  As  yet  nothing  could  be  seen, 
for  a  thickly-wooded  point  intervened.  Presently 
the  song  burst  on  them  in  full  resonant  chorus; 
at  the  same  moment  two  large  north-canoes — in 
all  the  brilliancy  of  orange-coloured  bark,  painted 
bows  and  sterns,  red-bladed  paddles,  with  crews  of 
scarlet-capped  or  bare-headed  men — swept  round 
the  point  with  quick  stroke,  in  time  to  the  rapid 
measure. 

A  cheer  was  the  irrepressible  impulse  of  the 


398 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


11' 


It 


4 
4 


in 


1" 


'ii 


I:    ji    li' 

.  !i;„ 

•'! 
jiii 


'l!!. 


men  on  shore,  causing  the  new-comers  to  stop  and 
listen. 

"  Perhaps,"  said  Dan,  "  they  may  be  your  foes  of 
the  Hudson's  Bay  Company." 

"  That  may  be  so,"  returned  the  Nor'west  Chief, 
gravely. 

The  unfurling  of  an  "  H.  B.  C."  (Hudson's  Bay 
Company)  flag  proved  that  it  was  so,  to  a  certainty, 
and  the  depressed  Nor'-westers  did  not  cheer  again ; 
but  the  H.  B.  C.  men  came  on,  paddling  with  wild 
vigour  and  cheering  hilariously. 

*•  They  seem  in  great  spirits,"  growled  the  Nor'- 
west  leader.  "We  are  almost  as  strong  as  they, 
boys,  and  have  the  advantage  of  woods  and  cliffs. 
Shall  we  fight  and  keep  our  prisoners  ? " 

"  What  is  that  white  thing  in  the  bow  of  the  first 
canoe  ? "  said  one  of  the  men. 

"  It  looks  like  a  flag,"  said  another. 

"  If  so,  it  is  a  flag  of  truce,"  observed  Dan.  "  They 
have  something  to  say,  and  do  not  want  to  fight." 

"  That  may  be  true,  but  we  won't  let  you  be  at  the 
conference,"  returned  the  leader,  sternly.  "Come, 
four  of  you,  lead  them  out  of  earshot.  Take  your 
guns,  and  use  them  if  need  be." 

Four  powerful  fellows  at  once  obeyed  the  order, 
and  led  the  prisoners,  who  had  been  once  more  bound, 
into  the  woods.  Once  again  Dan  was  tempted  to  offer 
fierce  resistance,  but  he  knew  that  the  Hudson's  Bay 
men  were  yet  too  far  off  to  be  able  to  hear  shouts 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


399 


,0  stop  and 

Dur  foes  of 

vest  Chief, 

dson's  Bay 
\  certainty, 
tieer  again ; 
;  with  wild 

I  the  Nor'- 

ig  as  they, 

and  cliffs. 

of  the  first 


m.    "They 
0  fight." 
be  at  the 
"  Come, 
Take  your 

the  order, 
ore  bound, 
ted  to  offer 
dson's  Bay 
ear  shouts 


— at  least  to  understand  the  meaning  of  them — and 
that  it  would  be  useless  to  resist  such  a  guard.  He 
therefore  submitted  to  be  led  a  mile  or  so  into  the 
woods,  and  finally  was  permitted  to  sit  down  with 
La  Certe  under  a  tree  to  await  the  result  of  the 
conference. 

They  had  not  to  wait  long.  In  less  than  half-an- 
hour  one  of  the  younger  among  the  Nor'-westers 
came  bounding  towards  them,  waving  his  cap  and 
shouting. 

"  You  are  free.  Messieurs — free ! "  he  cried,  seizing 
both  prisoners  by  the  hands.  "We  are  no  longer 
enemies ! " 

"  Free  !  What  do  you  mean  ? "  demanded  Dan, 
who  fancied  that  the  young  man  must  have  gone  mad 

"  The  companies  have  joined !"  he  cried,  excitedly. 
"  They  are  one  !  We  are  all  friends  now ;  but  come 
and  see  and  hear  for  yourself." 

Filled  with  wonder,  and  some  small  degree  of  hope, 
Dan  and  La  Certe  followed  the  young  man,  accom- 
panied by  their  guards,  who  were  not  less  mystified 
than  themselves.  Arrived  at  their  camping-place, 
they  found  that  the  canoes  had  brought  a  Chief 
Trader — or  officer  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company — 
who  was  conveying  to  Ked  River,  and  the  interior 
of  Eupert's  Land  generally,  the  good  news  of  a 
momentous  historical  event,  namely,  the  union  of 
the  two  companies. 

The  important  event  here  referred  to,  namely,  the 


400 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


M   I 


V    1 


coalition  between  the  two  great  rival  companies, 
which  took  place  in  1821,  was  the  death-blow  to 
party  strife  over  the  whole  of  Kupert's  Land,  and 
also  inaugurated  the  dawn  of  lasting  prosperity  in 
the  Eed  Kiver  Colony. 

"  Cut  their  bonds,"  said  the  Chief  Trader,  as  the 
prisoners  approached. 

No  touch  of  the  surgeon's  knife  ever  effected  a 
cure  more  speedily. 

"  I  congratulate  you,  young  sir,"  said  the  Trader, 
grasping  Dan's  hand :  "  you  are  now  free,  for  I 
understand  that  your  loss  of  liberty  had  nothing 
to  do  with  crime,  and  the  rival  companies  are  no 
longer  opponents ;  they  are  friends.  Indeed,  we 
have  been  married,  so  to  speak,  and  are  now  one. 
I  am  on  my  way  to  Eed  Kiver  with  the  good 
news." 

"  When  do  you  start  ? "  asked  Dan,  abruptly. 

"  Well,  if  you  mean  from  this  spot,"  answered 
the  Trader,  somewhat  surprised  as  well  as  amused 
at  the  eagerness  of  the  question,  "  I  start  at  once. 
Indeed,  I  would  not  have  landed  here  had  I  not 
seen  your  party.  You  appear  to  be  anxious.  Why 
do  you  ask  ? " 

"  Because  it  is  of  the  utmost  importance'  to  me 
that  I  should  be  in  Red  River  on  a  certain  date, 
and  I  fear  that  that  is  all  but  impossible  now." 

Dan  then  explained,  as  briefly  as  possible,  his 
circumstances.      Fortunately,   the    Trader    was    a 


ii  1 


OF  THE  liED  KIVEK  PLAINS. 


401 


sympathetic  man.  He  ordered  his  crews  to  embark 
at  once  and  bade  the  two  captives  take  a  brief, 
if  not  an  affectionate,  farewell  of  their  late  captors. 

"  I  cannot  promise  you  to  push  on,"  he  said,  "  at 
a  rate  which  will  satisfy  you — or  even  accomplish 
the  end  you  have  in  view — but  I  will  do  the  best 
I  can,  without  overworking  my  men.  I  fear,  how- 
ever, that  you  will  have  to  make  up  your  mind  to 
a  delayed  wedding !" 

"  If  you  will  only  do  your  best  for  a  day  or  two," 
said  Dan,  "  until  we  reach  the  mouth  of  this  river, 
that  will  do,  for  there  my  own  hunting  canoe  was 
left ;  and,  once  in  that.  La  Certe  and  I  can  go  ahead 
and  tell  them  you  are  coming." 

"  Nay,  that  would  be  requiting  me  ill — returning 
evil  for  good — to  take  the  wind  out  of  my  sails  and 
make  my  news  stale,"  returned  the  Trader,  with  a 
good-natured  laugh. 

"  True,  I  did  not  think  of  that,"  said  Dan.  "  Then 
we  will  say  not  a  word  about  it  until  you  arrive." 

"  Yes,  we  will  be  dumb,"  added  La  Certe.  "  Even 
Slowfoot  shall  fail  to  drag  it  out  of  me  !  " 

And  thus  it  was  arranged.  The  (late)  Nor'-westers 
continued  their  voyage  to  Canada,  and  the  Hudson's 
Bay  men  resumed  their  descent  of  the  Winnipeg 
River. 

Arrived  at  the  great  lake,  the  anxious  pair  did 
not  wait  even  to  rest,  but  at  once  embarked  in  their 


little  hunting  canoe. 


20 


402 


TUB  BUFFALO  RUNNEKS  :   A  TALE 


"5f 


ili!: 


4 


'•  I  'm  sorry  you  are  such  an  unpresentable  bride- 
groom," said  the  Trader,  when  they  were  about  to 
separate.  He  referred  to  the  cuts  and  bruises  with 
which  poor  Dan's  countenance  was  temporarily  dis- 
figured 

"  Never  mind,"  returned  our  hero,  with  a  laugh, 
"  wait  till  you  see  the  bride ;  she  will  more  than 
make  up  for  the  shortcomings  of  the  groom.  Adieu ! 
— au  revoir  I " 

They  pushed  off,  and  now  began  a  race  against 
time,  which,  in  the  matters  at  least  of  perseverance, 
persistency,  hard  labour,  and  determination,  beat  all 
the  records  of  bicyclists  and  horsemen  from  the  be- 
ginning of  time.  Cyclists  have  frequent  down-hills 
to  help  and  rest  them ;  Dan  and  his  friend  had  no 
such  aids.  It  was  all  either  dead  level  or  upstream. 
Dick  Turpin  and  the  rider  to  Ghent  (we  forget  his 
name)  only  killed  their  horses.  Dan  and  Francjois 
nearly  killed  themselves — not  only  with  hard  work 
and  no  rest,  but  with  profound  anxiety,  for  the  wed- 
ding hour  was  rapidly  approaching  and  they  were 
still  far  from  home ! 

While  these  events  were  transpiring  in  the 
wilderness,  things  were  going  smoothly  enough  iu 
the  Colony. 

"I  will  be  thinkin',"  said  old  Duncan  M'Kay, 
one  fine  evening  as  he  sat  in  his  invalid  chair,  be- 
side Duncan  junior,  who  was  wofuUy  reduced  and 
careworn,  despite  the  attentions  of  the  sympathetic 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


403 


;able  bride- 
e  about  to 
ruises  with 
lorarily  dis- 

,h  a  laugh, 

more  than 

)m.  Adieu! 

ace  against 
srseverance, 
ion,  beat  all 
rom  the  be- 
b  down-hills 
end  had  no 
)r  upstream. 

forget  his 
id  Francois 

hard  work 
or  the  wed- 
i  they  were 

mg  in    the 
enough   in 

;an  M'Kay, 
d  chair,  be- 
educed  and 
sympathetic 


Jessie  Davidson,  who  was  seated  near  him  on  a 
rustic  seat  beside  Elspie — "  I  will  be  thinkin'  that 
Tan  an'  La  Certe  are  stoppin'  longer  away  than  iss 
altogither  seemly.  Tan  should  have  been  here  two 
or  three  days  before  the  weddm'." 

"  He  will  likely  be  time  enough  for  his  own  wed- 
din* — whatever,"  remarked  Duncan  junior.  "  Don't 
you  think  so,  Miss  Jessie  ? " 

"I  think  it  likely,"  answered  the  giil  with  a 
smile. 

"He  is  sure  to  be  in  time,"  said  Elspie,  with 
emphasis. 

"We  niver  can  be  sure  of  anything  in  this 
world,  my  tear,"  remarked  old  Duncan,  becoming 
oracular  in  tone.  "How  do  you  know  he  iss  so 
sure  ? " 

"  Because  Dan  never  breaks  his  word,"  returned 
Elspie,  with  an  air  of  decision  tnat  would  have 
gratified  Dan  immensely  had  he  been  there  to  see  it. 

"Fery  true,  my  tear,"  rejoined  the  Highlander, 
"but  there  are  many  other  things  that  interfere 
with  one's  word  besides  the  will.  He  might  tie, 
you  know,  or  be  trowned,  or  his  gun  might  burst 
and  render  him  helpless  for  life,  if  it  did  not  kill 
him  altogither.  It  iss  an  uncertain  world  at  the 
best — whatever." 

Archie  Sinclair,  who  joined  them — with  his 
brother  Little  Bill  by  his  side,  not  on  his  back — 
was  of  the  same  opinion  as  Elspie,  but  Billie  shook 


404 


THE  BUFFALO  ItUNNERS  :  A  TALK 


his  head,  looked  anxious,  and  said  nothing — for  he 
felt  that  his  friend  was  running  things  much  too 
close. 

At  a  later  hour  that  same  evening,  the  other 
members  of  the  two  families — who  dropped  in  to 
make  inquiries — began  to  express  anxiety,  and 
Okdinatan,  who  called  just  to  see  how  things  were 
getting  on,  shook  his  head  and  loo\ed  owlish.  Old 
Peg  said  nothing,  but  she  evidenily  thought  much, 
to  judge  from  the  deepening  wrinkles  on  her  fore- 
head. 

As  for  Fred  Jenkins,  he  was  too  much  taken  up 
with  Elise  Morel  to  think  much  about  anything, 
but  even  he  at  last  grew  anxious,  and  when  the 
wedding  morning  finally  dawned,  and  no  Dan  made 
his  appearance,  something  like  consternation  filled 
the  hearts  of  all  within  the  walls  of  Ben  Nevis  Hall 
and  Prairie  Cottage.  Elspie  appeared  to  feel  less 
than  the  others,  but  the  truth  was  that  she  only 
controlled  herself  better. 

"He  only  wants  to  take  us  by  surprise,"  she 
said,  and,  under  the  strength  of  that  opinion,  she 
robed  herself  for  the  wedding.  Only  her  gravity 
and  the  pallor  of  her  cheeks  told  of  uneasiness  in 
her  mind. 

"  Muster  Sutherland  said  he  would  come  soon 
after  breakfast,"  observed  old  Duncan,  uneasily. 
"  He  should  hev  been  here  now, — for  we  need  his 
advice  sorely." 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


405 


"  Here  he  iss,"  exclaimed  Fergus,  starting  up  and 
hurrying  forward  to  welcome  the  good  old  Elder. 

Mr.  Sutherland's  advice  was  decided,  and  promptly 
given.  Both  weddings  should  be  deferred  and  all 
the  young  men  must  turn  out  in  an  organised  search 
without  a  moment's  delay ! 

It  was  amazing  to  find  that  every  one  had  been 
of  exactly  ^^  '^  same  opinion  for  some  time  past,  but 
no  one  h. ..  dared  to  suggest  a  course  of  action  which 
implied  a  belief  that  Dan  might  be  in  imminent 
danger,  if  not  worse. 

Now  that  the  ice  had  been  broken,  however, 
all  the  youth  of  the  neighbourhood  volunteered  for 
service,  and  a  plan  of  search  was  being  hastily 
formed  under  the  direction  of  the  Elder,  when  two 
men  in  a  canoe  were  seen  to  paddle  very  slowly 
to  the  landing-place  at  the  foot  of  the  garden. 
After  hauling  the  end  of  their  canoe  on  shore,  they 
walked,  or  rather  staggered,  up  towards  the  house. 

One  of  them  tripped  ard  fell,  and  seemed  from 
his  motions  as  if  he  thought  it  was  not  worth  while 
to  rise  again.  The  other,  paying  no  attention  to 
his  companion,  came  on. 

"  Pless  my  soul ! "  exclaimed  old  M'Kay,  "  it  iss 
Tan — or  his  ghost — whatever  !  " 

And  so  it  was!  Dirty,  bruised,  scratched,  bat- 
tered, and  soaking  wet,  Daniel  Davidson  appeared 
to  claim  his  beautiful  bride.  And  he  did  not  come 
in  vain,  for,  regardless  of  propriety  and  everything 


406 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


I 


•I 

■■«» 


else,  Elspie  ran  forward  with  a  little  shriek  and 
flung  herself  into  his  arms. 

"  I  have  kept  my  promise,  Elspie." 

"  I  knew  you  would,  Dan  !    I  said  you  would." 

"  Tan,  you  rascal !  come  here." 

The  youth  obeyed,  languidly,  for  it  was  evident 
that  he  was  thoroughly  exhausted. 

"  My  poy,"  said  the  Highlander,  touched  by  Dan's 
appearance,  "  you  hev  been  in  the  watter  ! " 

"  Not  exactly,  father,  but  last  night's  thunderstorm 
caught  us,  and  we  had  no  time  to  seek  shelter." 

"  An*  it  iss  fightin'  you  hev  been  ? 

"  With  water  and  rocks  only,"  said  Dan. 

"  Well,  well,  go  into  the  house  now,  and  change 
your  clo'es.  Dry  yourself,  an'  get  somethin'  to  eat, 
for  you  are  used  up  altogither." 

Elspie  took  his  hand,  and  led  him  away.  Mean- 
while La  Certe,  having  gathered  himself  up  and 
staggered  to  the  front,  was  seized  upon  and  ques- 
tioned unmercifully.  Then  he  also  was  taken  into 
the  house  and  fed;  after  which  both  men  were 
made  to  lie  down  and  rest. 

Having  slept  for  six  hours  Dan  awakened,  and 
rose  up  to  be  married!  Fred  Jenkins  and  Elise 
were — as  the  jovial  tar  expressed  it — turned  off  at 
the  same  time. 

It  was  customary  in  Kupert's  Land  at  that  time, 
as  it  is  customary  in  many  remote  lands,  no  doubt, 
at  the  present  day,  to  celebrate  every  wedding  with 


■S\]: 


liiiek  and 


would." 

IS  evident 

1  by  Dan's 

mderstorm 
elter." 

1. 

nd  change 

lin*  to  eat, 

y.  Mean- 
If  up  and 

and  ques- 
taken  into 

men  were 

cened,  and 

and  Elise 

rned  off  at 

that  time, 
no  doubt, 
iding  with 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


407 


a  feast  and  a  dance.  Feasts  are  very  much  alike 
in  substance,  if  not  in  detail,  everywhere.  We 
refrain  from  describing  that  which  took  place  in 
Ben  Nevis  Hall  at  that  time,  further  than  to  say 
that  it  was  superb.  The  dancing  was  simple.  It 
consisted  chiefly  of  the  Highland  Fling  danced  by 
the  performer  according  to  taste  or  imagination. 

But  that  it  was  eminently  satisfactory  to  all  con- 
cerned was  clearly  evinced  by  the  appearance  of 
the  whole  party — the  elegant  ease  with  which 
Fergus  M'Kay  did  it ;  the  tremendous  energy  with 
which  Jacques  Bourassin  tried  it;  the  persistent 
vigour  with  which  Andr^  Morel  studied  it;  the 
facility  with  which  Elise  acquired  it — under  Elspie's 
tuition;  the  untiring  perseverance  with  which 
Archie  and  Little  Bill  did  something  like  it — for 
the  latter  had  quite  recovered,  and  was  fit  to  hold 
his  own,  almost,  with  any  one ;  the  charming  con- 
fusion of  mind  with  which  Fred  Jenkins  inter- 
mingled the  sailor's  hornpipe  with  it ;  the  inimitable 
languor  with  which  La  Certe  condescended  to  go 
through  it ;  the  new-born  energy  with  which  Slow- 
foot  tooted  it ;  the  side-splitting  shrieks  with  which 
Old  Peg  regarded  it ;  the  uproarious  guffaws  with 
which  the  delighted  old  Duncan  hailed  it ;  the  sad 
smile  with  which  that  weak  and  worn  invalid 
Duncan  junior  beheld  it ;  and,  last,  but  not  least, 
the  earnest  mental  power  and  conspicuous  physical 
ability  with  which  Dan  Davidson  attempted  some- 


408 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


,1,  • 

|":t .,,'  ' 


I' 

■  ,    'I' 

:ei  Ml 


*'^4 


fill: 


thing  which  Charity  personified  might  have  supposed 
to  bear  a  distant  resemblance  to  it. 

The  music  was  worthy  of  the  dancing,  for  the 
appointed  performer  had,  owing  to  some  occult 
cause,  failed  to  turn  up,  and  a  volunteer  had  taken 
iub  place  with  another  fiddle,  which  was  home- 
made, and  which  he  did  not  quite  understand.  A 
small  pig  with  feeble  intellect  and  disordered  nerves 
might  have  equalled — even  surpassed — the  tones  of 
that  violin,  but  it  could  not  hope  to  have  beaten 
the  volunteer's  time.  That,  performed  on  a  board 
by  the  volunteer's  foot,  automatically,  beat  every- 
thing that  we  have  ever  heard  of  in  the  musical 
way  from  the  days  of  Eden  till  now. 

Only  four  members  of  the  two  households  failed  to 
take  a  violently  active  part  in  that  festive  gather- 
ing. Jessie  Davidson  had  conveniently  sprained  her 
ankle  for  the  occasion,  and  thus  was  set  free  to  sit 
between  the  wheeled  chairs  of  the  two  Duncans,  and 
act  as  a  sympathetic  receptacle  of  their  varied  com- 
mentaries. Her  mother,  being  too  stout  for  active 
service,  sat  beside  them  and  smiled  universal  be- 
nignity. Her  little  maid,  Louise,  chanced  to  be  ill. 
Peter  Davidson's  case,  however,  was  the  worst. 
He  had  gone  off  in  company  with  Okematan  to 
visit  a  camp  of  Cree  Indians,  intending  to  be  back 
in  time,  but  his  horse  had  gone  lame  while  yet  far 
from  home,  and  as  it  was  impossible  to  procure 
another  at  the  time,  he  was  fain  to  grin  and  bear 


OF  THE  RED  RIVEU  PLAINS. 


409 


it.  Meanwhile  Autoiue  Dechamp  had  been  pressed 
into  the  service,  and  took  his  place  as  best-man  to 
Fred  Jenkins — a  position  which  he  filled  to  ad- 
miration, chiefly  owing  to  the  fact  that  he  had 
never  served  in  such  a  capacity  before. 

Late  on  the  following  evening  La  Certe  sat  by 
his  own  fireside,  somewhat  exhausted  by  the  festi- 
vities of  the  day  before,  and  glaring  affectionately 
at  Slow  foot,  who  was  stirring  something  in  a  pot 
over  the  fire.  The  little  one — rapidly  becoming  a 
big  one,  and  unquestionably  by  that  time  a  girl 
— crouched  at  her  father's  side,  sound  asleep,  with 
her  head  resting  on  his  leg.  She  no  longer  cried 
for  a  pull  at  her  father's  pipe. 

"  Have  you  heard  that  Kateegoose  is  dead  ? " 
asked  Slowfoot. 

"  No— how  did  he  die  ? " 

"He  was  met  on  the  plains  by  enemies,  killed, 
and  scalped." 

"  That  is  sad — very  sad,"  said  La  Certe. 

"  The  world  is  well  rid  of  him,"  observed  Slow- 
foot  ;  "  he  was  a  bad  man." 

"Yes,"  responded  her  lord;  "it  is  necessary  to 
get  rid  of  a  bad  man  somehow — but — but  it  is  sad 
— very  sad — to  kill  and  scalp  him." 

La  Certe  passed  his  fingers  softly  among  the  locks 
of  his  sleeping  child  as  if  the  fate  of  Kateegoose 
were  suggestive !  Then,  turning  as  from  a  painful 
subject,  he  asked — 


'ill! 


410 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :  A  TALE 


IN 


'4 


';lir 


4 

«l 


fjiil ' 
i: 


il 


<l 


f< 


"  Does  our  little  one  never  smoke  now  ? " 

"  No — never." 

"  Does  she  never  wish  for  it  ? " 

"  Slowfoot  cannot  tell  what  our  little  one  wishes," 
was  the  reply,  "  but  she  never  gets  it." 

La  Certe  pondered  for  some  time,  and  then 
asked — 

"  Does  my  Slowfoot  still  like  work  ? " 

"  She  likes  it  still— likes  it  better." 
And  she  does  it — sometimes  ? " 
Yes,  often— always." 

"  Why  ?  " 

"Because  Mr.  Sutherland  advises  me — and  I 
like  Mr.  Sutherland." 

"  Does  my  Slowfoot  expect  me  to  liLe  work  too, 
and  to  do  it?"  asked  La  Certe  with  a  peculiar 
glance. 

"  "We  cannot  like  what  we  don't  like,  though  we 
may  do  it,"  answered  the  wife,  drawing  perilously 
near  to  the  metaphysical,  "but  Slowfoot  expects 
nothin:^.  She  waits.  My  rran9ois  is  not  a  child. 
He  can  judge  of  all  things  for  himself." 

"  That  is  true,  my  Slowfoot ;  and,  do  you  know," 
he  added,  earnestly,  "I  have  had  hard  work — 
awfully  hard  work — killing  work — since  I  have  been 
away,  yet  it  has  not  killed  me.  Perhaps  you 
will  doubt  me  when  I  tell  you  that  I,  too,  rather 
like  it ! " 

"That  is  strange,"  said  Slowfoot,  with  more  of 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


411 


>» 


e  wishes/' 
and   then 


I — and  I 

work  too, 
peculiar 

lough  we 
)erilously 
>  expects 
a  child. 

u  know," 
work — 
ave  been 
aps  you 
0,  rather 

more  of 


interest  in  her  air  than  she  had  shown  for  many  a 
day.     "  Why  do  you  like  it  ? " 

"I  think,"  returned  the  husband,  slowly,  "it  is 
because  I  like  Dan  Davidson.  I  like  him  very 
much,  and  it  was  to  please  him  that  I  began  to 
work  hard,  for,  you  know,  he  was  very  anxious  to 
get  home  in  time  to  be  at  his  own  wedding.  So 
that  made  me  work  hard,  and  now  I  fii^d  that  hard 
work  is  not  hard  when  we  like  people.  Is  it  not 
strange,  my  Slowfoot  ? " 

"Yes.  Your  words  are  very  like  the  words  of 
Mr.  Sutherland  to-day.     It  is  very  strange ! " 

Yet,  after  all,  it  was  not  so  very  strange,  for  this 
worthy  couple  had  only  been  led  to  the  discovery 
of  the  old,  well-known  fact  that — "Love  is  the 
fulfilling  of  the  law." 

There  was  yet  another  of  those  whose  fortunes  we 
have  followed  thus  far  who  learned  the  same  lesson. 

About  the  same  time  that  the  events  just  de- 
scribed took  place  in  Ked  River,  there  assembled 
a  large  band  of  feathered  and  painted  warriors  in  a 
secluded  coppice  far  out  on  the  prairie.  They  had 
met  for  a  grave  palaver.  The  subject  they  had 
been  discussing  was  not  war,  but  peace.  Several  of 
the  chiefs  and  braves  had  given  their  opinions,  and 
now  all  eyes  were  turned  towards  the  spot  where 
the  great  chief  of  all  was  seated,  with  a  white  man 
beside  him.  That  great  chief  was  Ok^matan.  The 
Paleface  was  Peter  Davidson. 


412 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


4 

Ml 


Eising  with  the  dignity  that  befitted  his  rank, 
Ok^matan,  in  a  low  but  telling  voice,  delivered 
himself,  as  follows : — 

"When  Ok^matan  left  his  people  and  went  to 
live  for  a  time  in  the  wigwams  of  the  Palefaces,  he 
Vvished  to  find  out  for  himself  what  they  wanted  in 
our  land,  and  why  they  were  not  content  to  remain 
in  their  own  land.  The  answer  that  was  at  first 
given  to  my  questions  seemed  to  me  good — a  reply 
that  might  have  even  come  from  the  wise  heads  of 
the  Cree  Nation ;  but,  after  much  palaver,  I  found 
that  there  was  contradiction  in  what  the  Palefaces 
said,  so  that  I  began  to  think  they  were  fools  and 
knew  not  how  to  talk  wisely.  A  Cree  never  reasons 
foolishly — as  you  all  know  well — or,  if  he  does,  we 
regard  him  as  nobody — fit  only  to  fight  and  to  die 
without  any  one  caring  much.  But  as  I  lived 
longer  with  the  Palefaces  I  found  that  they  were 
not  all  fools.  Some  things  they  knew  and  did  well 
Other  things  they  did  ill  and  foolishly.  Then  I  was 
puzzled,  for  I  found  that  they  did  not  all  think 
alike,  as  we  do,  and  that  some  have  good  hearts  as 
well  as  good  heads.  Others  have  the  heads  without 
the  hearts,  and  some  have  the  hearts  without  the 
heads — Waugh ! " 

"  Waugh ! "  repeated  the  listening  braves,  to  fill 
up  the  pause  here,  as  it  were,  with  a  note  of  approval. 

"The  Palefaces  told  me,"  continued  Okdmatan 
with  great  deliberation,  as  if  about  to  make  some 


a 


OF  THE  RED  RIVER  PLAINS. 


413 


his  rank, 
delivered 

i  went  to 
lefaces,  he 
wanted  in 
to  remain 
IS  at  first 
I — a  reply 
e  heads  of 
r,  I  found 
Palefaces 
fools  and 
er  reasons 
3  does,  we 
md  to  die 

I  lived 
hey  were 

did  well 
hen  I  was 
all  think 
hearts  as 
s  without 
;hout  the 

es,  to  fill 
approval. 
)k(^inatan 
ake  some 


astounding  revelations,  "that  their  land  was  too 
small  to  hold  them,  and  so  they  came  away.  I  told 
them  that  that  was  wise ;  that  Cree  Indians  would 
have  done  the  same.  But  then  came  the  puzzle,  for 
they  told  me  that  there  were  vast  tracts  of  land 
where  they  lived  with  plenty  of  lakes,  rivers,  and 
mountains,  in  which  there  was  nobody — only  fish 
and  birds  and  deer.  Then  I  said.  You  told  me  that 
your  land  was  too  small  to  hold  you  ;  why  did  you 
not  go  and  live  on  these  mountains,  and  fish  and 
shoot  and  be  happy  ?  To  this  they  answered  that 
those  fine  lands  were  claimed  by  a  few  great  chiefs, 
who  kept  them  for  their  own  shooting  and  fishing, 
and  drove  out  all  the  braves  with  their  wives  and 
families  and  little  ones  to  crowd  upon  the  shores  of 
the  great  salt-water  lake,  and  live  there  on  a  few 
fish  and  shells — for  even  there  the  great  chiefs 
would  not  allow  them  to  have  all  the  fishing,  but 
kept  the  best  of  it  for  themselves !  Or,  if  they  did 
not  like  that,  the  poor  braves  were  told  to  go  and 
live  in  what  they  called  cities — where  there  are 
thousands  of  wigwams  crowded  together,  and  even 
piled  on  the  top  of  each  other, — but  I  think  the 
Palefaces  were  telling  lies  when  tliey  said  that — 
Waugh ! " 

Again  there  were  many  "  Waiighie  "  responses, 
mingled  with  numerous  "  Ho's  ! "  of  astonishment, 
and  a  few  other  sounds  that  seemed  to  indicate 
disbelief  in  Okematan's  veracity. 


414 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS  :   A  TALE 


"  What,"  continued  Ok^matan,  with  considerable 
vehemence,  "  what  would  my  braves  do  if  Ok^matan 
and  a  few  of  the  Cree  chiefs  were  to  take  all  the 
lands  of  Red  River,  and  all  the  buffalo  and  all  the 
birds  and  beasts  to  themselves,  and  drive  the  braves 
with  their  families  to  the  shores  of  Lake  Winnipeg, 
to  live  there  on  fish,  oi  die,  or  leave  the  country  if 
they  did  not  like  it !    What  would  they  do  ? " 

Ok^matan's  voice  increased  in  fervour,  and  he  put 
the  finishing  question  with  an  intensity  that  called 
forth  a  chorus  of  "  Waughs ! "  and  "  Ho's ! "  with  a 
glittering  of  eyes,  and  a  significant  grasping  of 
scalping-knives  and  tomahawks  that  rendered  fur- 
ther reply  needless. 

"  Would  you  not  scorn  us,"  he  continued,  "  scalp 
us,  tear  out  our  eyes,  roast  us  alive  ? — but  no — the 
Cree  Nation  loves  not  cruelty.  You  would  merely 
pat  us  on  the  head,  and  tell  us  to  go  and  make 
moccasins,  and  boil  the  kettle  with  the  squaws ! 

"Then,  when  I  began  to  know  them  better,  I 
found  that  all  the  Paleface  chiefs  over  the  great 
salt  lake  are  not  greedy  and  foolish.  Some  are 
open-handed  and  wise.  I  also  found  that  there  is  a 
tribe  among  them,  who  lived  chiefly  in  the  mountain 
lands.  These  are  very  kind,  very  brave,  very  wise, 
and  very  grave.  They  do  not  laugh  so  loud  as  the 
others,  but  when  they  are  amused  their  eyes  twinkle 
and  their  sides  shake  more.  This  tribe  is  called 
Scos-mins.     I  love  the  Scos-mins  !    I  lived  in  the 


OF  THE  RED  RIVEU  PLAINS. 


415 


siderable 
kdmatan 
3  all  the 
d  all  the 
le  braves 
Winnipeg, 
ountry  if 

d  he  put 
at  called 
"  with  a 
sping  of 
ered  fur- 

d,  "  scalp 
I  no — the 
d  merely 
ad  make 
aws! 
better,  I 
he  great 
)ome  are 
-here  is  a 
nountain 
ery  wise, 
id  as  the 
1  twinkle 
is  called 
d  in  the 


wigwam  of  one.  He  is  old  and  fierce,  but  he  is  not 
bad,  and  his  heart  is  large.  In  his  house  were  some 
other  Scos-mins — braves  and  squaws.  They  were 
very  kind  to  me.     This  is  one  of  them." 

The  flashing  eyes  of  the  entire  party  were  turned 
upon  Peter  Davidson,  who,  however,  had  presence  of 
mind  enough  to  gaze  at  the  cloudless  heavens  with 
immovable  solemnity  and  abstraction. 

"  There  are  two  others,  whom  I  look  upon  as  sons. 
One  is  named  Arch-ee;  the  other  Leetil  Beel. 
Now,"  continued  Okematan,  after  a  pause,  "my 
advice  is  that  we  should  teach  the  Paleface  chiefs 
over  the  great  salt  lake  a  lesson,  by  receiving  the 
poor  braves  who  have  been  driven  away  from  their 
own  lands  and  treating  them  as  brothers.  Our  land 
is  large.  There  is  room  for  all — and  our  chiefs  will 
never  seize  it.  Our  hearts  are  large ;  there  is  plenty 
of  room  there  too. 

"  The  Great  Spirit  who  rules  over  all  inclines  my 
heart  to  go  and  dwell  with  the  Palefaces  until  I 
understand  them  better,  and  teach  them  some  of 
the  wisdom  of  the  Eedman.  I  shall  return  to  Eed 
Eiver  to-morrow,  along  with  my  Paleface  brother 
whose  name  is  Pee-ter,  and  while  I  am  away  I 
counsel  my  braves  and  brothers  to  dwell  and  hunt 
and  fish  together  in  love  and  peace." 


How  it  fared  with  Okematan  on  his  self-imposed 


I ' 


i     I 


!      ! 


4 

'4 


W 


416 


THE  BUFFALO  RUNNERS. 


mission  we  cannot  tell,  but  we  do  know  that  from 
1821 — the  date  of  the  auspicious  coalition  before 
mentioned — the  sorely  tried  colony  began  steadily  to 
prosper,  and,  with  the  exception  of  the  mishaps 
incident  to  all  new  colonies,  and  a  disastrous  flood 
or  two,  has  continued  to  prosper  ever  since. 
Civilisation  has  made  rapid  and  giant  strides, 
especially  during  the  later  years  of  the  century. 
The  wave  has  rushed  far  and  deep  over  the  old 
boundaries,  and  now  the  flourishing  city  of 
Winnipeg,  with  its  thousands  of  inhabitants, 
occupies  the  ground  by  the  banks  of  the  Eed 
River,  on  which,  not  many  years  ago,  the  old 
Fort  Garry  stood,  a  sort  of  sentinel-outpost,  guard- 
ing the  solitudes  of  what  was  at  that  time  considered 
a  remote  part  of  the  great  wilderness  of  Rupert's 
Land. 


THE  END. 


Printed  by  T.  and  A.  Constable,  Printers  to  Her  Majesty, 
at  the  Edinburgh  University  Press. 


II 


that  from 
Aon  before 

steadily  to 
le  mishaps 
trous  flood 
sver  since, 
tit  strides, 
le  century, 
er  the  old 
J  city  of 
Qhabitants, 
the  Eed 
3,  the  old 
ost,  guard- 
considered 
►f  Rupert's 


jesty, 


